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Research shows pharmacists can help deliver effective knee arthritis interventions
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Individuals aged older than 50 years with regular, but typical symptoms of knee osteoarthritis that underwent intervention therapy that their pharmacists recommended received higher quality osteoarthritis care than individuals who received usual osteoarthritis care alone, according to a study published in the journal Arthritis Care & Research.
In a randomized, controlled trial, 18 pharmacies provided usual osteoarthritis (OA) care and were given an educational pamphlet and 14 pharmacies issued OA screening questionnaires, provided OA education, communicated with primary care physicians, and made physical therapy and pain medication management recommendations to those involved in the study, according to a press release from the journal.
Researchers from Canada used a quality indicator pass rate in assessing the results. They noted that at 3 months and 6 months after the intervention therapy occurred, study participants in that group had a higher quality of OA care and demonstrated improved pain and function scores.
“Our findings suggest that pharmacists can effectively indicate interventions that address the gaps in OA patient care,” Carlo Marra, PharmD, PhD, lead author and professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of British Columbia, in Vancouver, Canada, stated in the press release. “With the rise in OA, collaborative care presents a novel approach in preventing and treating those with knee OA."
The individuals included in the study suffered from knee pain or stiffness within the past month that prevented them from participating in activities. They were 50 years of age or older, had not participated in a formal exercise program in the last 6 months, and had a body mass index greater than 25, according to the release.
Reference:
Marra CA, Cibere J, Grubisic M, et al. Pharmacist initiated intervention trial in osteoarthritis (PhIT-OA): a multidisciplinary intervention for knee osteoarthritis. Arthritis Care Res. 2012. Published online August 28, 2012. doi: 10.1002/acr.21763.