Strengthening the role of pharmacists

Oct 13, 2025 by windailys.com 109 views

The Influence of Pharmaceutical Care on the Cost and Clinical Outcomes of Outpatient Primary Hypertension Therapy at the Cut Meutia Lhokseumawe Regional General Hospital

Introduction

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a serious global health problem that contributes to a significant number of cerebrovascular cases, ischemic heart disease, and heart failure. In Indonesia, the prevalence of hypertension is increasing, resulting in higher therapy costs and economic burdens. Therefore, efforts are needed to improve the quality of services, one of which is through pharmaceutical care counseling. This article aims to review the effect of counseling on the results of hypertension therapy, including decreased blood pressure, improving the quality of life of patients, and cost-effectiveness analysis.

Background

Hypertension is a major public health concern worldwide, and its prevalence is increasing in Indonesia. The high cost of hypertension therapy and its economic burden on the healthcare system are significant concerns. Pharmaceutical care counseling is a crucial aspect of hypertension management, as it can improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. This article reviews the effect of pharmaceutical care counseling on the cost and clinical outcomes of outpatient primary hypertension therapy at the Cut Meutia Lhokseumawe Regional General Hospital.

Methodology

This study was conducted using a quasi-experimental design with an unequal control group. The study was carried out from May to November 2016 at the Cut Meutia Lhokseumawe Regional General Hospital. The sample consisted of 22 patients in each group, namely groups who received counseling and groups that did not. The cost analysis was conducted from the perspective of the Social Security Organizing Agency (BPJS) by calculating the total medical costs directly based on the use of resources and unit costs.

Quality of Life Measurement

The quality of life of patients was measured using the quality of life (Qaly) taken from the SF-36 questionnaire. The Qaly score is a widely used measure of health-related quality of life, which assesses physical functioning, social functioning, emotional well-being, and other aspects of health.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

Cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted by calculating the cost-effectiveness ratio (CERA), the incremental cost-effectiveness (ICER) ratio, the cost-utility (Curly) ratio, and the incremental cost-ducity (ICUR) ratio. The CERA is a measure of the cost-effectiveness of a treatment, which is calculated by dividing the cost of the treatment by the effect achieved. The ICER is a measure of the incremental cost-effectiveness of a treatment, which is calculated by dividing the incremental cost of the treatment by the incremental effect achieved.

Results

The results of the study showed that the majority of male hypertension patients (54.55%) with an age range of 35-64 years (77.27%) received counseling. The hypertension therapy accompanied by counseling showed a significant decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.000 for both). There was a significant difference in decreasing systolic and diastolic blood pressure between groups that received counseling and those that did not (p = 0.000 for systolic and p = 0.001 for diastolic). In addition, the quality of life of patients also increased (p = 0.039).

Cost Analysis

The cost analysis showed that the Ceri for groups without counseling was Rp 6,704,248, while the group with counseling was Rp 1,756,118, showing a striking difference. The ICER calculated was Rp. 233,145, while the CUR for group without counseling was Rp. 2,188,208 and for groups with counseling was Rp. 2,181,595. The ICUR was obtained at Rp 2,124,923.

Conclusion

From the results of the study, it can be concluded that the treatment of hypertension accompanied by pharmaceutical counseling is more cost-effective than without counseling. This shows that intervention in the form of counseling can have a positive impact not only on patient health, but also on the efficiency of treatment costs. Strengthening the role of pharmacists in providing appropriate pharmaceutical care is very important in improving the quality of health services and reducing costs for the health system in Indonesia.

Recommendations

Based on the results of the study, the following recommendations are made:

Strengthening the role of pharmacists: Pharmacists play a crucial role in providing appropriate pharmaceutical care, which can improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. Therefore, strengthening the role of pharmacists in providing pharmaceutical care is essential.
Improving pharmaceutical care counseling: Pharmaceutical care counseling is a crucial aspect of hypertension management. Therefore, improving pharmaceutical care counseling is essential to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
Cost-effectiveness analysis: Cost-effectiveness analysis is essential in evaluating the effectiveness of treatments and making informed decisions about resource allocation. Therefore, cost-effectiveness analysis should be conducted regularly to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments and make informed decisions about resource allocation.

Limitations

This study had several limitations, including:

Small sample size: The sample size was small, which may limit the generalizability of the results.
Short study period: The study period was short, which may limit the ability to capture long-term effects of pharmaceutical care counseling.
Limited data: The data collected were limited, which may limit the ability to conduct a comprehensive analysis.

Future Research Directions

Future research directions include:

Long-term effects of pharmaceutical care counseling: The long-term effects of pharmaceutical care counseling on patient outcomes and healthcare costs should be investigated.
Cost-effectiveness analysis: Cost-effectiveness analysis should be conducted regularly to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments and make informed decisions about resource allocation.
Improving pharmaceutical care counseling: Pharmaceutical care counseling should be improved to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Influence of Pharmaceutical Care on the Cost and Clinical Outcomes of Outpatient Primary Hypertension Therapy

Q: What is the significance of pharmaceutical care in the management of hypertension?

A: Pharmaceutical care is a crucial aspect of hypertension management, as it can improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. Pharmaceutical care involves the provision of appropriate medication and counseling to patients with hypertension, which can help to manage their condition and prevent complications.

Q: What are the benefits of pharmaceutical care counseling in the management of hypertension?

A: The benefits of pharmaceutical care counseling in the management of hypertension include:

Improved blood pressure control
Reduced risk of cardiovascular disease
Improved quality of life
Reduced healthcare costs
Improved patient adherence to medication regimens

Q: How does pharmaceutical care counseling affect the cost of hypertension therapy?

A: Pharmaceutical care counseling can reduce the cost of hypertension therapy by:

Improving patient adherence to medication regimens
Reducing the need for hospitalizations and emergency department visits
Reducing the cost of medications and other healthcare resources

Q: What are the key findings of the study on the influence of pharmaceutical care on the cost and clinical outcomes of outpatient primary hypertension therapy?

A: The key findings of the study include:

The treatment of hypertension accompanied by pharmaceutical counseling is more cost-effective than without counseling
The quality of life of patients also increases with pharmaceutical care counseling
The cost-effectiveness ratio (CERA) and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) are lower with pharmaceutical care counseling

Q: What are the implications of the study for healthcare providers and policymakers?

A: The study has several implications for healthcare providers and policymakers, including:

The importance of strengthening the role of pharmacists in providing pharmaceutical care
The need to improve pharmaceutical care counseling to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs
The importance of conducting cost-effectiveness analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments and make informed decisions about resource allocation

Q: What are the limitations of the study?

A: The study has several limitations, including:

Small sample size
Short study period
Limited data

Q: What are the future research directions for this study?

A: The future research directions for this study include:

Long-term effects of pharmaceutical care counseling on patient outcomes and healthcare costs
Cost-effectiveness analysis of different treatments for hypertension
Improving pharmaceutical care counseling to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs

Q: How can healthcare providers and policymakers implement the findings of this study in their practice?

A: Healthcare providers and policymakers can implement the findings of this study by:

Strengthening the role of pharmacists in providing pharmaceutical care
Improving pharmaceutical care counseling to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs
Conducting cost-effectiveness analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments and make informed decisions about resource allocation

Q: What are the potential applications of this study in other healthcare settings?

A: The potential applications of this study in other healthcare settings include:

Improving the management of other chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart failure
Reducing healthcare costs and improving patient outcomes in other healthcare settings
Improving the quality of care and patient satisfaction in other healthcare settings