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IMPLEMENTATION OF A SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAMME FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH HEPATITIS C RECEIVING TREATMENT WITH DIRECT ACTING ANTIVIRAL AGENTS
European Statement
Clinical Pharmacy Services
Author(s)
S. IBAÑEZ GARCIA, C.G. RODRIGUEZ-GONZALEZ, A. GIMENEZ-MANZORRO, E. CHAMORRO DE VEGA, R. COLLADO-BORELL, E. LOBATO-MATILLA, A. DE LORENZO-PINTO, M. TOVAR-POZO, A. HERRANZ-ALONSO, M. SANJURJO-SAEZ
Why was it done?
CHC affects approximately 3% of the world’s population. The development of well tolerated and effective AADs has changed the therapeutic landscape. These therapies have a high efficacy with a good safety profile. Numerous challenges in terms of patient education, monitoring, medication errors, drug interactions and adherence exist. Our National Health System launched a strategy plan for proper CHC management in April 2015, establishing, among other things, measures to optimise AAD use.
What was done?
We have developed a pharmaceutical care programme.
I. The following protocols were defined:
– A case selection and treatment guideline, following the recommendations from health authorities.
– A protocol for the management of drug interactions.
– A protocol with recommended dosages and administration techniques.
– A protocol with potential adverse drug events and recommendations about how to prevent and manage them.
– A protocol about clinical interview to ensure patient literacy and co-responsability.
– Patients information leaflets.
II. The pharmacy department was provided with:
– 3 full time pharmacists.
– 2 patient information offices.
– a queue management system.
III. Appointment scheduling:
Pharmacy visits were scheduled after the hepatologist/infectious disease specialist appointments every 28 days.
IV. The clinical interviews were documented in the electronic health record.
How was it done?
A multidisciplinary team was formed with two hepatologists, one infectious disease specialist, three clinical pharmacists and one nurse to:
– Address the key points associated with the safe and efficient use of AADs.
– Create a useful clinical guideline.
– Identify staffing and logistics needs.
What has been achieved?
No of patients included in the programme: 674
No of initial visits: 674
No of follow-up visits: 1750
No of patients attended/day: 19.9
No (%) adherent patients at the end of treatment: 412/412 (100%)
No of pharmacist interventions: 195
No (%) pharmacist interventions accepted: 194 (99%)
Average waiting time to be attended by the pharmacist: 15 min
No of queries made to the hospital pharmacist: 84
No of adverse drug events reported to the pharmacovigilance centre: 31
Cost savings (€): 121 194
What next?
This initiative provides a set of recommendations regarding CHC management and a support guide to standardise and guarantee high quality pharmaceutical care.
The next step is to develop pharmaceutical care programmes for the management of other pathologies following the same methodology that we have used for this initiative.