Impact of Pharmacist-Led Intervention on Adherence and Self-Care Practices in a Sample of Iraqi Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sarah Waheed Mawlood; Mohammed Yawuz Jamal; Faiq Isho Gorial

doi:10.54133/ajms.v11i1.3041

Authors

Sarah Waheed Mawlood Al-Rashad Training Hospital for Psychiatry, Baghdad Al-Rusafa Health Directorate, Baghdad, Iraq
Mohammed Yawuz Jamal Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0878-8384
Faiq Isho Gorial Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2760-5566

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54133/ajms.v11i1.3041

Keywords:

Adherence, Pharmacist, Rheumatoid arthritis, Self-care

Abstract

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis significantly impacts patients' daily lives and quality of life, which highlights the need for effective medication adherence and self-care practices. Objectives: To evaluate the impact of pharmacist-led intervention on adherence to medication and self-care practices among patients with RA. Methods: A one-group pre–post interventional study conducted at the rheumatology unit, Baghdad Teaching Hospital. Participants were given educational counseling and an educational booklet. Each participant received two educational sessions; the initial session was conducted immediately after obtaining the baseline evaluation of adherence using the General Medication Adherence Scale (GMAS) and self-care practices using the self-care questionnaire through a face-to-face interview, which lasted around 20-25 min, and the second session was held one month later as a 5-minute phone call. The evaluation of adherence using the GMAS and self-care practices using the self-care questionnaire was obtained again at the end of the study. Results: The study recruited 75 patients with a mean age of 47.12±10.15 years. The mean scores for adherence (p=0.022), self-care practices (p=0.002), and disease activity (p=0.012) were significantly enhanced after the intervention. Conclusions: This pharmacist-led educational intervention improved RA patients’ medication adherence, self-care practices, and CDAI score. Which highlights the potential value of integrating clinical pharmacists into rheumatology clinics to support patient management.

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