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MEDICATION REVIEWS

Population-Based Medication Reviews: A Descriptive Analysis of the Medication Issues Identified in a Medicare Not-for-Profit Prescription Discount Program

Associate Professor, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA

Julie M Ganther-Urmie, PhD

Assistant Professor, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa

Gang Fang, BS

Graduate Research Assistant, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa

William R Doucette, PhD

Associate Professor, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa

John M Brooks, PhD

Associate Professor, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa

Donald G Klepser, MBA

Graduate Research Assistant, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa

David J Fries, BS

Executive Director, Iowa Prescription Drug Corporation, West Des Moines, IA

Carol L Kuhle, DO

Chair, Board of Directors, Iowa Prescription Drug Corporation

Reprints: Karen B Farris PhD, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, S512 Pharmacy, 115 S. Grand Ave., Iowa City, IA 52242-1112, fax 319/353-5646, Karen-farris{at}uiowa.edu

BACKGROUND: Medication reviews may be an important strategy to improve medication use, especially for individuals receiving many drugs.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the types of medication issues and recommendations identified in the Iowa Priority Brown Bag Medication Reviews, compare individuals with medication issues with those without medication issues, and describe Iowa Priority enrollees' experiences with and satisfaction of the review.

METHODS: A retrospective review of enrollment forms and medication review records and a survey of Iowa Priority members were conducted in 2002. Subjects were Medicare-eligible individuals who joined the Iowa Priority Prescription Savings Program. Frequency distributions and descriptive statistics were calculated. Analysis using t-test and ² test determined differences between individuals with and without issues regarding use of drug therapy.

RESULTS: Almost 13% of Iowa Priority enrollees received a review. There were 1167 individuals with 2123 medication issues identified. Nonprescription medications accounted for one-third of drug interactions and >40% of duplications. People with issues had poorer health, more chronic conditions, and took more drugs than people without medication issues. One-third of survey respondents discussed the review with their physicians, and 17.7% reported medication changes. Satisfaction with the review was good; however, only 24% were likely to have received an annual review.

CONCLUSIONS: Iowa Priority Brown Bag Medication Reviews showed that individuals with fair/poor health, higher numbers of medications, and more chronic conditions were likely to have medication issues. Reviews generated discussions between physicians and patients, produced some medication changes, and helped individuals save money.

Key Words: community pharmacy services, descriptive analysis, drug-related problems, elderly, medication review

Published Online, October 12, 2004. www.theannals.com, DOI 10.1345/aph.1E204

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. B Christensen and K. B Farris Pharmaceutical Care in Community Pharmacies: Practice and Research in the US Ann. Pharmacother., July 1, 2006; 40(7): 1400 - 1406. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]