A pilot study to assess the practicality, acceptability and feasibility of a randomised controlled trial to evaluate the impact of a pharmacist complex intervention on patients with stroke in their own homes

Souter, Caroline and Kinnear, Anne and Kinnear, Moira and Mead, Gillian (2016) A pilot study to assess the practicality, acceptability and feasibility of a randomised controlled trial to evaluate the impact of a pharmacist complex intervention on patients with stroke in their own homes. European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy: Science and Practice. ISSN 2047-9956 (https://doi.org/10.1136/ejhpharm-2016-000918)

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Abstract

Objective To test the practicality, acceptability and feasibility of recruitment, data collection, blood pressure (BP) monitoring and pharmaceutical care processes, in order to inform the design of a definitive randomised controlled trial of a pharmacist complex intervention on patients with stroke in their own homes. Methods Patients with new stroke from acute, rehabilitation wards and a neurovascular clinic (NVC) were randomised to usual care or to an intervention group who received a home visit at 1, 3 and 6 months from a clinical pharmacist. Pharmaceutical care comprised medication review, medicines and lifestyle advice, pharmaceutical care issue (PCI) resolution and supply of individualised patient information. A pharmaceutical care plan was sent to the General Practitioner and Community Pharmacy. BP and lipids were measured for both groups at baseline and at 6 months. Questionnaires covering satisfaction, quality of life and medicine adherence were administered at 6 months. Results Of the 430 potentially eligible patients, 30 inpatients and 10 NVC outpatients were recruited. Only 33/364 NVC outpatients (9.1%) had new stroke. 35 patients completed the study (intervention=18, usual care=17). Questionnaire completion rates were 91.4% and 84.4%, respectively. BP and lipid measurement processes were unreliable. From 104 identified PCIs, 19/23 recommendations (83%) made to general practitioners were accepted. Conclusion Modifications to recruitment is required to include patients with transient ischaemic attack. Questionnaire response rates met criteria but completion rates did not, which merits further analysis. Lipid measurements are not necessary as an outcome measure. A reliable BP-monitoring process is required.

  • Item type:Article
    ID code:58503
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    8 August 2016
    Published
    8 August 2016
    Published Online
    5 July 2016
    Accepted
    Notes:This article has been accepted for publication in European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy following peer review. The definitive copyedited, typeset version is available online at: https://dx.doi.org/10.1136/ejhpharm-2016-000918 Souter, C., Kinnear, A., Kinnear, M., & Mead, G. (2016). A pilot study to assess the practicality, acceptability and feasibility of a randomised controlled trial to evaluate the impact of a pharmacist complex intervention on patients with stroke in their own homes. European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy: Science and Practice. DOI: 10.1136/ejhpharm-2016-000918
    Subjects:Medicine > Therapeutics. Pharmacology
    Department:Faculty of Science > Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:09 Nov 2016 11:41
    Last modified:08 Apr 2024 23:09
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/58503
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