Abstract
BackgroundThe study site started its roll-out of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention of mother-to-child transmission in 2006. All patients were counselled by trained counsellors, before seeing a doctor. At the pharmacy the medicines were collected with no intense counselling by a pharmacist as the patients would have visited the trained counsellors first. Subsequently it was found that there were many queries regarding HIV and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Thus a dedicated antiretroviral pharmacy managed by a pharmacist was established to support the counsellors.ObjectivesThe objective of the study was to assess the impact of a pharmacist intervention on the knowledge gained by HIV and AIDS patients with regard to the disease, antiretroviral drug use (i.e. how the medication is taken, its storage and the management of side effects) as well as adherence to treatment.MethodThis study was undertaken at a public sector hospital using anonymous structured questionnaires and was divided into three phases: pre-intervention, intervention and post-intervention phases. After obtaining patient consent the questionnaires were administered during the first phase. A month later all patients who visited the pharmacy were counselled intensely on various aspects of HIV and antiretroviral medication. Thereafter patients who participated in Phase 1 were asked to participate in the second phase. After obtaining their consent again, the same questionnaire was administered to them. Quantitative variables were compared between pre-intervention and post-intervention stages by using paired t-tests or Wilcoxon signed ranks tests. Categorical variables were compared using McNemar's Chi-square test (Binary) or McNemar-Bowker test for ordinal variables.ResultsOverall the mean knowledge score on the disease itself had increased significantly (s.d. 6.6%), (p < 0.01), after the pharmacists’ intervention (pre-intervention was 82.1% and post-intervention was 86.3%). A significant improvement was noted in the overall knowledge score with regard to medicine taking and storage (p < 0.05) and the management of the side effects. There was a non-significant difference between the adherence in pre-intervention and in post-intervention (p = 0.077).ConclusionPharmacists’ intervention had a positive impact on HIV infected patients’ HIV and AIDS knowledge on both the disease and on the antiretroviral drug use and storage.
Highlights
SettingKey focus Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a global health problem of unprecedented dimensions
Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region most heavily affected by HIV, accounting for 67% of all people living with HIV and for 75% of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) related deaths in 2007.1 http://www.phcfm.org doi:10.4102/phcfm.v3i1.258
175 participants completed both phases of the study, resulting in a response rate of 87.5%
Summary
Key focus Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a global health problem of unprecedented dimensions. Three decades ago this virus was unknown; yet it has already caused an estimated 25 million deaths worldwide and has generated profound demographic changes in the most heavily affected countries.[1]. Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region most heavily affected by HIV, accounting for 67% of all people living with HIV and for 75% of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) related deaths in 2007.1 http://www.phcfm.org doi:10.4102/phcfm.v3i1.258. All patients were counselled by trained counsellors, before seeing a doctor. At the pharmacy the medicines were collected with no intense counselling by a pharmacist as the patients would have visited the trained counsellors first. A dedicated antiretroviral pharmacy managed by a pharmacist was established to support the counsellors
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