Assessing the Impact of Medication Consultations with a Medication Event Monitoring System

Abstract

This study's objective was to compare the levels of patient medication adherence and knowledge achieved by medication consultations in two settings: a cardiology clinic and an outpatient pharmacy. Thirty-three patients were randomized to receive medication counseling either at the clinic or the outpatient pharmacy. Their medication knowledge and medication adherence (assessed by pill counts and by the Electronic Medication Events Monitoring System [MEMS]) were determined at baseline and at 1-month follow-up. Pill counts overestimated adherence compared with MEMS (90.8% vs. 80.7%, p < 0.001). The average medication adherence rate in patients who received therapeutic consultation at the clinic was 83.2% versus 78% for outpatient pharmacy patients (ns). Knowledge assessment scores of patients at follow-up were 69.7% and 59.7%, respectively (ns). No significant difference was observed in medication knowledge and adherence between the two groups. Other modalities, in addition to medication consultation, should be employed to improve patient medication knowledge and adherence.