A clinical ly relevant but not statistically significant reduction in triglycerides was found .
No impact on HDL-C levels was found .
Patients ' adherence to pharmacotherapeutic regimens and quality of life were considered possibly not sensitive and possibly sensitive to pharmacist interventions , respectively .
Total cholesterol is sensitive to pharmacist interventions , while LDL-C and triglyceride levels are possibly sensitive to those interventions .
BACKGROUND Hyperlipidemia increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases , and control is pivotal for preventing disease complications .
Multidisciplinary interventions , including those performed by pharmacists , are important for improving patients ' outcomes .
OBJECTIVE To quantify the impact of pharmacist interventions in enhancing patients ' outcomes .
The effect of pharmacist intervention and patient education on lipid-lowering medication compliance and plasma cholesterol levels.
BACKGROUND Dyslipidemias are a modifiable risk factor for coronary heart disease . The benefits of cholesterol reduction drug therapies are limited by poor patient compliance with drug regimens . OBJECTIVES To determine the impact of a community pharmacist pilot disease-management program on patient compliance with lipid-lowering drug therapy and on serum cholesterol levels . METHODS One hundred forty-nine patients who were nonadherent to prescribed hypolipidemic drug regimens were recruited for this six-month prospect i ve study . Each subject served as their own control . Pharmacists educated these patients on lipid disorders , the benefit of medication compliance and lifestyle modifications that reduce the risk for coronary heart disease . Pharmacists followed up participants by telephone at two-month intervals . Drug renewal rates were monitored throughout the study and plasma lipid levels were measured at study outset and study end . RESULTS Pharmacist intervention and patient-education programs significantly increased medication compliance , as shown by a 15.3 % increase ( P<0.05 ) in the number of compliant patients and an 11 day ( P<0.001 ) reduction in the average number of days to prescription renewal . Concurrently , levels of total cholesterol , triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein ( LDL ) cholesterol , were reduced by 6 % , 16.2 % , and 8.5 % ( P<0.001 , 0.01 , 0.01 ) , respectively . High density lipoprotein ( HDL ) cholesterol remained relatively unchanged ( + 0.7 % ) so that the LDL to HDL ratio was improved by 17.2 % overall ( P<0.01 ) . Almost all of the patients ( 99.2 % ) were satisfied with the program and expressed a willingness to pay an average $ 34.50 per 30 min consultation for the pharmacist services offered . CONCLUSION Pharmacists can contribute significantly to disease management of dyslipidemic individuals
A clinical ly relevant but not statistically significant reduction in triglycerides was found .
No impact on HDL-C levels was found .
Patients ' adherence to pharmacotherapeutic regimens and quality of life were considered possibly not sensitive and possibly sensitive to pharmacist interventions , respectively .
Total cholesterol is sensitive to pharmacist interventions , while LDL-C and triglyceride levels are possibly sensitive to those interventions .
BACKGROUND Hyperlipidemia increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases , and control is pivotal for preventing disease complications .
Multidisciplinary interventions , including those performed by pharmacists , are important for improving patients ' outcomes .
OBJECTIVE To quantify the impact of pharmacist interventions in enhancing patients ' outcomes .