Optimizing Pharmacists’ Effectiveness as Medication Therapy Managers Through a Segmentation Approach

Abstract

To determine whether older persons could be segmented into meaningful subgroups that shared similar patterns in terms of self-assessments of medication-related knowledge, beliefs, and perceived abilities. Secondary analysis of data previously collected from a cross-sectional, descriptive study. United States. A total of 500 community-dwelling older persons, 65 years and older, using at least one prescription medication. Mail survey. Older persons' self-assessments of medication-related knowledge, beliefs, and perceived abilities, as well as perceptions of pharmacist-patient relationships. The data set contained usable responses from 330 respondents out of 496 surveys presumably delivered (66.5%). Cluster analysis revealed three groups of older persons who showed differences in terms of medication-related beliefs and perceived abilities. Older persons in group 1 reported worse health, used the most prescription medications, sought the most advice from pharmacists, and had the lowest perceived abilities. Older persons in group 2 reported good health, took the fewest medications, sought pharmacists' advice least frequently, and had the lowest beliefs and high perceived abilities. Older persons in group 3 reported the best health, had the highest beliefs, high perceived abilities, and the highest perceptions of pharmacist participative behavior, patient-centeredness, relationship quality, and commitment. Pharmacists can use a segmentation approach to target those older persons who are most in need of medication therapy management.