TEAMWORK and time management are critical for pharmacists looking to deliver health coaching services to patients with chronic conditions, research from RMIT reveals.
A pilot trial of pharmacist health coaching for patients with poorly controlled hypertension, published in Patient Preference and Adherence, found the participants experience a variety of positive health changes.
The authors reported that patient awareness of and the importance of monitoring hypertension was enhanced through the pharmacist-led program, with patients saying the three-month-long trial kept them accountable.
The two pharmacists involved in the program noted the provision of such coaching would require planning, teamwork and good time management, with rostering a critical component in ensuring the success of the service.
"If I was the only pharmacist that was dispensing, of course it would be difficult," one of the pharmacists said.
"When there were more pharmcists [on duty] I would tell the participant to wait five to 10 minutes to clear the mess and after that do the blood pressure session."
The pharmacists noted that the coaching sessions were successful, as they helped to reinforce the need for patients to adhere to their medication regimens.
"Previously before the blood pressure sessions, they were thinking a couple of days without my medicines is not a big deal, but after explaining to them the importance of taking the medicine regularly and not to miss a dose, I think they all had an improvement in blood pressure," one of the pharmacists said.
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