BMC Med Educ 24, 521 (2024)
An evaluation of written materials for supporting hypertensive patient education and counselling when performing a new medicine service in Poland
The New Medicine Service (NMS) was developed in England more than ten years ago, as a three-stage consultation led by community pharmacists to support patients taking new medication for a chronic disease. In Poland, the scheme was officially introduced in January 2023. However, its implementation into common practice has been presented with various obstacles, including the need to develop relationships with general practitioners, resolve the payment structure, and provide training with adequate supporting materials. Hence, written materials have been designed for use as an optional tool for counselling patients receiving an NMS in community pharmacies. Methods. The present study evaluates the ability of these materials to inform patients about the need to adhere to anti-hypertensive medication. A group of 401 randomly-selected adult visitors to pharmacies and/or healthcare centres were surveyed; one third had hypertension in their history. Results. The structure, grammar and readability of the text achieved the required threshold of 40% according to the Plain Language Index. The designed materials effectively informed the patients about anti-hypertensive medication, reflected in an increased score in a knowledge test, and were rated positively regarding information level, comprehensibility and presentation. Conclusion. The proposed material may serve as an additional, “patient-friendly” educational tool for use as part of an NMS.
Keywords: Anti-hypertensive therapy, Medication adherence, Pharmaceutical care, New medicine service, Written educational material
Med Sci Monit. 2024 Aug 15;30:e944657
The Critical Role of Community Pharmacists in Blood Pressure Monitoring
doi: 10.12659/MSM.944657
Arterial hypertension is the most important modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In some countries, pharmacists’ patient-centered approach has become a common practice, and their role in supporting the management of cardiovascular disease has been successfully developed for years. In particular, recent findings have confirmed benefits of pharmacist-provided hypertension care. Current guidelines emphasize the need for regular BP measurements in subjects age 40 years and older, who are at increased risk of hypertension. A panel of experts in cardiology, hypertensiology, family medicine, and pharmacy presented a narrative review of implementing community pharmacy blood pressure (CPBP) measurements into Polish pharmacy practice to assist pharmacists in CPBP readings. The paper focuses on basic aspects of management of untreated patients with elevated blood pressure levels, as well as management of individuals diagnosed with hypertension, who should follow their primary care physicians’ recommendations for anti-hypertensive therapy. The article also includes a few important aspects related to CPBP measurement, such as equipment and techniques. Development of ready-made schemes of procedures for patients with different results of blood pressure measurement could ensure a uniform standard of services provided by pharmacists. This gives an opportunity to provide such patients with medical care and initiate treatment, and facilitates effective maintenance of BP in hypertensive subjects. This article reviews the role of pharmacists in Poland in screening for hypertension by taking blood pressure measurements.
Keywords: Blood Pressure Determination, Community Pharmacy Services, Hypertension, Education, Public Health, Humans, Pharmacists, Blood Pressure, Poland, Professional Role
Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 10;15(1):24962
An assessment of written leaflets for enhancing patient education and counselling on asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the implementation of a new medicine service in Poland
In recent years, an increasing number of people have been struggling with chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Experienced pharmacists may play a crucial role in spreading knowledge by explaining what these diseases are and why it is important to take medications correctly. They could provide education in pharmaceutical care and professional counselling, e.g., leaflets that help people better absorb and remember the information. The aim of the study was to assess patients’ knowledge before and after they read the prepared educational materials on asthma and COPD as part of the New Medicine Service (NMS) and to gather their opinions on them. This study was carried out via proprietary questionnaires from March 2023 to January 2024 in Poznan and Lodz. A knowledge test, which was completed by patients before and after they read the brochure on asthma and COPD, was used, as was a satisfaction questionnaire that subjectively evaluated the proposed educational material. The study was conducted in various settings – community pharmacies and general practitioners’ clinics. A total of 690 respondents participated in the study and completed the surveys (350 and 340 regarding asthma and COPD, respectively). In a pre-post analysis, the respondents obtained statistically higher scores on knowledge tests for both asthma (p < 0.001) and COPD (p < 0.001) after reading the brochure than before, confirming an increase in their knowledge of the subject matter. The respondents also significantly higher rated their self-assessed knowledge of these diseases after reading the leaflets than before. The materials provided for asthma and COPD patients were also highly assessed by the respondents in terms of their interest in them and their aesthetics, clarity, usefulness, and comprehensibility. The described materials on asthma and COPD, which are used as part of the NMS, can be useful in enhancing patients’ knowledge of both conditions. They can complement the service by providing additional information, supporting the treatment process, and helping patients better understand asthma and COPD.
Keywords: Asthma; COPD; Medical education; New medicine service; Pharmaceutical care; Pharmacist; Written educational materials
Farmacja Polska nr 5/2023, tom 79
Konsultacja farmaceutyczna Nowy Lek jako wsparcie pacjentów chorych przewlekle w realizacji zaleceń terapeutycznych (New Medicine Service as support for medication adherence by chronically ill patients)
Efektywna kontrola leczenia pacjenta chorego przewlekle to złożony proces, na który składa się nie tylko stosowanie odpowiednio dobranej farmakoterapii. Poza właściwą diagnozą i dobrze zaplanowanym postępowaniem terapeutycznym, kluczowym dla uzyskania zakładanych efektów będzie stosowanie się pacjenta do zaleceń terapeutycznych (adherence). Zjawisko to, szeroko opisane w literaturze, charakteryzuje się m.in. nie rozpoczęciem terapii nowym lekiem, pomijaniem (świadomym lub nieświadomym) pojedynczych dawek leku, odstawieniem leku na stałe lub na jakiś czas czy modyfikacją schematu dawkowania bez konsultacji z lekarzem. Wśród przyczyn non-adherence wymienia się między innymi brak odczuwania objawów choroby, subiektywną poprawę stanu zdrowia, długi czas terapii, obawę przed wystąpieniem działań niepożądanych, wielochorobowość i wielolekowość. Brak wiedzy nie pozwala pacjentom uczestniczyć w ustalaniu procesu terapii i osłabia ich motywację do przestrzegania zaleceń terapeutycznych. Przekazywanie wiedzy na temat choroby i leku, czy edukacja w zakresie prawidłowego jego stosowania, sprzyjają kształtowaniu odpowiednich postaw pacjentów chorych przewlekle wobec zaordynowanej terapii. Zadanie to spoczywa na wszystkich pracownikach systemu ochrony zdrowia – w tym również na farmaceutach. Obecne ustawodawstwo daje przedstawicielom tego zawodu medycznego pełne prawo do podejmowania takich działań, zdefiniowanych jako optymalizacja prowadzonej farmakoterapii czy edukacja zdrowotna i promocja zdrowia. Realizacji powyższych celów ma służyć także, jako jedno z proponowanych świadczeń opieki farmaceutycznej dla polskich pacjentów – konsultacja Nowy Lek. Nowy Lek został zapoczątkowany w roku 2011 w Wielkiej Brytanii jako wsparcie pacjentów rozpoczynających stosowanie nowego leku ze wskazaniem do przewlekłej terapii. Doświadczenia płynące z pilotaży oraz wyniki prób klinicznych prowadzonych od tego czasu w wielu krajach europejskich pokazują, że świadczenie może wpływać w sposób optymalny i wielokierunkowy na zachowania zdrowotne pacjentów. W artykule przedstawiono założenia i cele takiej konsultacji farmaceutycznej w polskim systemie ochrony zdrowia, omówiono schemat postępowania wraz z proponowanymi formularzami ułatwiającymi dokumentowanie procesu, a także opisano korzyści z konsultacji w aspekcie poprawy adherence pacjentów chorych przewlekle.
Słowa kluczowe: opieka farmaceutyczna, edukacja pacjenta, świadczenie zdrowotne, konsultacja farmaceutyczna Nowy Lek, adherence.