Improving medication adherence in patients with hypertension through pharmacist-led telehealth services

Abstract

Background Pharmacist-led telehealth services have resulted in improvements in several disease states, including diabetes and conditions requiring anticoagulation. Pharmacists who used telehealth methods to follow up with their patient have noticed an increase in medication adherence. Methods Using PubMed and EBSCO secondary databases, inclusion criteria were any peer-reviewed study design such as randomized controlled trials, literature reviews, systematic reviews, and cohort studies published within the last 10 years. Search terms included pharmacist, telemedicine, telehealth, cardiovascular disease, and medication adherence. Results Seventeen articles were reviewed. Most pharmacist interventions for patients with hypertension involving telemedicine, E-Health, or remote monitoring were performed in the outpatient setting. The primary target of most studies consisted of improving medication adherence. Conclusion Pharmacist services play an integral role in maintaining medication adherence among the hypertensive population. Telehealth is an effective method of communication with patients to ensure their health is maintained, minimizing barriers of access to care.

Advancing telemedicine in cardiology: A comprehensive review of evolving practices and outcomes in a postpandemic context

“…Finally, a 2022 U.S. scoping review of 17 articles examined the benefits of using pharmacist-led telemedicine services in medication adherence for patients with hypertension. 24 Medication adherence increased when pharmacists were involved with the patient’s management of hypertension. Randomized controlled trials further demonstrated that pharmacist intervention can significantly lower and improve BP lowering in patients with hypertension.…”

“…The major barriers today preventing effective telemedicine implementation are mitigating access barriers to telemedicine devices, ensuring adherence to remote rehabilitation procedures, and implementing widespread telemedicine infrastructure. 23 , 24 …”

Telehealth in hypertension management: remote monitoring, adherence, and patient outcomes

“…These virtual interventions were deemed effective for bridging the gap between health professionals and patients, reducing health disparity due to inaccessibility. 22 For individuals with mobility issues or other barriers to inperson visits, telehealth provides a convenient alternative for receiving timely and effective healthcare. Another study observed the impact of a patient education intervention through telehealth in a primary healthcare setting, which resulted in remarkable improvements in medication adherence among hypertensive individuals, strengthening the role of telehealth in successfully improving medication adherence.…”

“…24 With continuous remote monitoring and virtual check-ins, healthcare providers can identify issues early and intervene promptly, potentially preventing complications associated with uncontrolled hypertension. 22 Moreover, patient satisfaction has also been surveyed in individuals using telehealth for the management of hypertension, and positive feedback has been reported from the majority of the users. 25 However, several risks have been identified, which can be potential barriers to the widespread use of telehealth for the management of hypertension.…”