Culturally Tailored Pharmacist Home Visits and Educator-Led Group Sessions Increase Medication Adherence and Reduce Blood Pressure for Seniors with Hypertension and Diabetes

Snapshot

Summary

The MyRx Medication Adherence Program offered culturally and linguistically tailored medication management and health education to seniors with hypertension and/or diabetes living in the community. Pharmacists visited participants in their homes, usually an apartment in one of the participating housing complexes, to perform a medication assessment and reconciliation, offer personalized education, and develop a care plan. After these visits had been completed, health educators hosted two group sessions at the residential facilities–one focused on healthy eating and one focused on physical activity and stress management. After each session, pharmacists called patients at home to follow-up on the care plan and answer any questions they had. The program increased seniors’ knowledge about diabetes and improved medication adherence. Significant reductions in blood pressure were observed as well. The program’s impact on blood glucose levels and weight were inconclusive. Both participants and staff had positive things to say about the program. The program ended in April 2013 when the grant funding that supported it ran out.

Evidence Rating(What is this?)

Moderate: The evidence consists of pre- and post-implementation comparisons of key outcomes measures related to participants’ condition-specific medication adherence, blood pressure, blood glucose, and weight, along with anecdotal feedback from participants and staff involved in the program.