Additional evidence supports effectiveness of appointment-based medication synchronization
Adherence to prescribed chronic medications – or, rather, lack of adherence – is a major public health concern. A study appearing in the August issue of the Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy suggests that chronic medication users who participate in an appointment-based medication synchronization (ABMS) program are two to three times more likely to take their prescribed medications for one year than patients who receive the usual care.
Lead author and VCU School of Pharmacy professor David Holdford said the study measured the impact of an ABMS program on medication adherence and persistence with chronic medications in community pharmacy patients. “This research,” he said, “provides further evidence of the effectiveness of appointment-based medication synchronization.”
The ABMS program allows pharmacists to manage patients’ needs more proactively. A patient’s medications are synchronized to be dispensed once a month on a single appointment day. Prior to the appointment, the patient receives a reminder call during which any prescription changes are discussed. On the appointed day, the patient visits the pharmacy to pick up the medications.
This is the first study that has examined the effect of ABMS on patients who have been taking their chronic disease medications for six months or more. “It shows comparable results to other research examining adherence in patients who were first starting their medications,” said Holdford.
The research suggests that for every 100 patients taking medications, approximately 18 to 35 additional ABMS participants will remain adherent over one year when compared with usual care. Using a program provided by the Ohio-based Discount Drug Mart pharmacies, the study also found that persistence with chronic medications was significantly higher in ABMS patients.
Holdford notes that ABMS is a new program pharmacists are learning to integrate into their systems. Its impact may increase as methods become more standardized and best practices are learned and implemented.
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