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- Title
Falling through the Cracks: A multi-disciplinary Strategy to Improve DMARD use in Rheumatoid Arthritis.
- Authors
Liu, Nancy; Marra, Carlo; Thomas, Jamie
- Abstract
Aim of study: The purpose of the study is for pharmacists to identify patients with rheumatoid arthritis who are not currently receiving DMARD therapy and to initiate a multi-disciplinary approach to improve disease management that includes the pharmacist, a physiotherapist and the patient's family physician. Methods: Patients are recruited in pharmacies via posted advertisements and through pharmacist identification of eligible participants during normal pharmacists-patient interactions. Using a standardized questionnaire and medication review, the pharmacist will conduct a pharmacy-based assessment to determine the likelihood of RA and establish contact with the family physician to confirm the diagnosis. Patients who meet the eligibility criteria are referred to a physiotherapist, who will conduct assessment for joint inflammation. Pharmacists will then provide the results of the pharmacist and PT assessments to the patient's family physician with an emphasis on the role of DMARD Therapy. Results: Study outcomes include the number of patients recruited through pharmacies who are assessed as likely having RA, the proportion of these patients who are prescribed a DMARD and/or those who are referred to a rheumatologist within 3 months of their PT assessment. In addition, changes in health status, RA symptoms and quality of life are assessed 3 and 6 months after the study enrollment. It was found that one of the biggest barriers to patient recruitment by pharmacists in the pilot phase include pharmacist being too busy. The full launch of the study in Vancouver, Victoria and Edmonton is currently taking place and result will soon be available in spring of 2011. Conclusion: The study is ongoing so no conclusion can be drawn at this time. If successful, the study could provide a model that would inform healthcare policies that encourage interdisciplinary collaboration to improve RA outcomes. It could also be a model for other provinces to increase the use of DMARDs.
- Subjects
RHEUMATOID arthritis; PHARMACIST-patient relationships; MULTIDISCIPLINARY practices; DISEASE management; PHARMACY
- Publication
UBC Medical Journal, 2011, Vol 2, Issue 2, p10
- ISSN
1920-7425
- Publication type
Abstract