A new study out of the US shows that pharmacist-led diabetes coaching programs can generate improved health outcomes and a reduction in medical expenses.
Published in Diabetes Care and presented at the American Diabetes Association's 85th Scientific Sessions in Chicago recently, the study explored how pharmacists can help lower medical costs while also improving patients' glycemic control.
"Individuals with persistently uncontrolled diabetes (Hemoglobin A1C 9) are often high utilisers of health care services," the authors said.
"We explored whether a pharmacist coach could reduce medical expenditure and A1C levels for at-risk patients in poor glycemic control despite receiving standard care at an endocrinology clinic."
The authors recruited pharmacists who were certified diabetes care and education specialists, and asked them to deliver individualised coaching.
The coaching included medication management, nutrition & lifestyle counselling, and refill coordination, in collaboration with diabetes educators, endocrinologists,
and nurses.
Researchers compared the results of 165 patients who were enrolled in the coaching program with 675 who were not.
Enrolled patients saw annual medical costs US$4,691 lower than those in the control group, and experienced an average A1C decrease of 1.6% compared to a decrease of 0.5% (p<0.05) in the control group.
The authors concluded that pharmacists have the ability to play a major role in diabetes management, through their understanding of medication management and their ability to build good client relationships. JM
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