Evaluation of a medication safety and adherence program within a First Nations community in Saskatchewan, Canada

Objective: The objective of this mixed methods report was to describe a pharmacist intervention to support medication adherence of patients living with chronic health conditions in a First Nations community. Setting: The intervention took place in a First Nations community health center. Practice description: Multidisciplinary primary care clinic. Practice innovation: A pharmacist was integrated into the weekly primary care clinics to regularly monitor patients and address any medication-related issues. Evaluation: The pharmacist intervention was evaluated qualitatively by using focus groups and interviews, and quantitatively by analyzing medication refill claims. Results: The entire health care team believed that the support provided by the pharmacist encouraged the patients to take control of their health conditions and was beneficial to increasing patient self-management behaviors, including improved medication adherence. All staff appreciated the team-based model because it optimized appointment times and promoted better patient care. The patients valued having a pharmacist they trusted and with whom they had a relationship to address their concerns. In the 6 months after the date of the initial visit with the pharmacist, the median number of refill claims increased in comparison with the 6 months before. Conclusion: A clinical pharmacist contributes to improved satisfaction and medication adherence when integrated into a primary care team providing care in a First Nations community. (c) 2021 American Pharmacists Association (R). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.