Pharmacist-directed care or in collaboration with physicians or nurses improve the management of major CVD risk factors in out patients
BACKGROUND Pharmacists may improve the clinical management of major risk factors for cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) prevention .
A systematic review was conducted to determine the impact of pharmacist care on the management of  CVD risk factors among out patients .
Randomized Trial Assessing the Effectiveness of a Pharmacist-Delivered Program for Smoking Cessation
Background : As trained and accessible healthcare professionals , pharmacists are in an ideal position to provide tobacco cessation interventions . Of the 15 studies identified in the literature assessing the effectiveness of tobacco cessation interventions delivered by pharmacists , this is the first r and omized controlled trial conducted in the US of a pharmacist-delivered program for smoking cessation using biochemical confirmation . Objective : To assess the effectiveness on smoking cessation of a face-to-face group program conducted by the pharmacist team compared with a brief st and ard care session delivered by a pharmacist over the telephone . Methods : An open-label , prospect i ve , r and omized , controlled trial was conducted at a Veterans Health Administration , community-based outpatient clinic in the Rocky Mountain region . Participants were r and omly assigned to receive a 3-session face-to-face group program conducted by the pharmacist team or one 5- to 10-minute st and ard care session delivered by the pharmacist team over the telephone . Participants in both groups were offered either immediate-release bupropion or nicotine patch at no cost . The primary outcome of self-reported abstinence was biochemically confirmed by urinary cotinine at 6 months after the quit date . Results : One hundred one smokers were r and omized from October 3 , 2005 , to March 30 , 2007 , with the last 6-month follow-up survey completed on November 6 , 2007 . Analysis of data was completed in December 2007 . Using intent-to-treat procedures , confirmed abstinence rates at the end of 6 months were 28 % in the pharmacist-delivered face-to-face treatment group and 11.8 % in the st and ard care telephone session control group ( p < 0.041 ) . Conclusions : This study demonstrates that pharmacists are effective providers of tobacco cessation interventions . Greater utilization of pharmacists in tobacco cessation efforts could have a significant impact on smoking rates , prevention of tobacco-related diseases , and overall improvement in public health across the US
Pharmacist-directed care or in collaboration with physicians or nurses improve the management of major CVD risk factors in out patients
BACKGROUND Pharmacists may improve the clinical management of major risk factors for cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) prevention .
A systematic review was conducted to determine the impact of pharmacist care on the management of  CVD risk factors among out patients .