Consumer perspectives of the Australian Home Medicines Review Program: Benefits and barriers

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The Australian Home Medicines Review (HMR) is a free consumer service to assist individuals living at home to maximize the benefits of their medicine regimen and prevent medication related problems. It consists of a pharmacist reviewing a person's medicines and collaborating with the general practitioner to optimize the individual's medicine management. The uptake of this service has remained below the projected use although the program has been shown to successfully identify medication related problems and improve patient drug knowledge and adherence.

Attitudes of pharmacists to provision of Home Medicines Review for Indigenous Australians

“…The respondents in this study, similar to other HMR studies with non-Indigenous Australians [26,27] indicated that two significant barriers to HMR program uptake were lack of awareness of the program by health professionals and lack of GP referrals. Studies have also found that some GPs often do not value the role of pharmacists in performing medication management review [16,17].…”

Clinical medication review in Australia: A systematic review

“…12 There has also been research into perceived barriers to implementing CMRs, 13,14 and initiatives to promote greater uptake among those at high risk of ADEs. 15 While the development and implementation of CMR has continued to be the subject of research, there has been no previous systematic review of Australian CMR research.…”

Time to Rethink the Funding Model for Home Medicines Review

“…For example, from a patient's perspective as a key stakeholder, HMRs improved their knowledge, skills and confidence in using medicines. [5][6][7] Patients also reported a high satisfaction rate with the service. [5][6][7] From a GP's perspective, these doctors alone have complete control over the HMR and RMMR program activities: pharmacists can only initiate an HMR or RMMR in response to a GP's referral.…”

“…[5][6][7] Patients also reported a high satisfaction rate with the service. [5][6][7] From a GP's perspective, these doctors alone have complete control over the HMR and RMMR program activities: pharmacists can only initiate an HMR or RMMR in response to a GP's referral. Given that these referrals have been made, 10 it would appear obvious that there is support from this sector.…”

“…One study addressing consumer perspectives of HMRs found that patients believed HMRs helped them gain information about their medicines and made them feel reassured, valued and cared for. 5,16 Moreover, it is important to note that recent Australian studies have demonstrated that referrals for HMRs are appropriately targeted to patients at highest risk of medication-related problems. 21 Research conducted across Australia has consistently demonstrated that HMRs are a cost-effective way to identify and resolve medicine-related problems and improve health outcomes.…”