Table 1 Characteristics of included studies
Source; country | Study setting | Study design, duration | Sample size (intervention/control) | Study participants; mean Age | Key components of pharmacist interventions | Intervention frequency | Description of usual care | Outcomes extracted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Calvert [14], 2012; US | In hospital and community pharmacy | RCT, 6 months | 143 (71/72) | CAD patients (UA or AMI; or ≥50% coronary occlusion on cardiac catheterization; or prior PTCA or CABG); 62 years | Focused medication counseling performed by the hospital study pharmacist, who identified and addressed barriers to medication adherence. A pocket medication card, a list of tips for remembering to take medications, and a pillbox were provided. Discharge medications were shared with the community pharmacist. The community pharmacist monitored for problems with adherence and communicated issues back to the patient and the patient’s care team | Every 6 weeks | Routine discharge counseling performed by the patient-care nurse and a letter/discharge summary from the hospital physician to the community physician | Medication adherence |
The MEDMAN study [15], 2007; England | Community pharmacy | RCT, 12Â months | 1493 (980/513) | CHD patients (previous MI, angina, CABG and/or PTCA); 69Â years | Consultations of therapy, medication compliance, lifestyle and social support were provided by the community pharmacist and recommendations were recorded and sent to the GP, who returned annotated copies to the pharmacists. | Depending on pharmacist-determined patient need | Usual care | Medication adherence and BP control |
Faulkner [16], 2000; US | Outpatient clinic | RCT, 2 years | 30 (15/15) | Patients 7 ~ 30 days after PTCA or CABG and baseline fasting LDL-C >130 mg/dl (3.3 mmol/L); 63 years | Pharmacist telephoned patients, emphasized on the importance of therapy, asked patients about when and where prescriptions were filled, how they paid for their prescriptions, potential side effects, overall well-being, and specific reasons for noncompliance when applicable. | Every week for 12 weeks | Counseling of appropriate use of the drugs and dietary instruction | Medication adherence and lipid management |
Olson [17], 2009; US | Medical offices | RCT, 2 years | 421 (214/207) | CAD patients (AMI, CABG, PCI) who had been enrolled in the CPCRS for at least 1 year and who had 2 consecutive controlled LDL-C, non–HDL-C, and blood pressure within 6 months before enrollment; 72 years | Review of laboratory results, blood pressure, medications and adherence, counseling on diet and exercise regimens, making medication adjustments, ordering follow-up laboratory tests, and mailing laboratory reminder letters for patients | Every 1 year | Usual care plus laboratory reminder letters | The occurrence of coronary events, mortality, and hospitalization; medication adherence, BP control, and lipid management |
Straka [18], 2005; US | Outpatient clinic | cluster RCT, 6.5Â months of active treatment, and 18Â months of follow-up | 481 (150/331) | CHD patients whose LDL-C levels were not at goal; 69Â years | Managing lipid-lowering drug therapy and educating patients on cardiovascular risk reduction, communicating the responsible physician about the medication managements. | Every 6Â weeks | Usual care | Medication adherence, BP control and lipid management |