Abstract: TH-PO600
Clinical Pharmacists Are Underutilized in the Management of Hypertension
Session Information
- Hypertension and CVD: Epidemiology, Risk Factors, Prevention
November 03, 2022 | Location: Exhibit Hall, Orange County Convention Center‚ West Building
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Hypertension and CVD
- 1501 Hypertension and CVD: Epidemiology‚ Risk Factors‚ and Prevention
Authors
- Masry, Ahmad Al, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States, Iowa, Iowa, United States
- Sambharia, Meenakshi, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States, Iowa, Iowa, United States
- Wendt, Linder, Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States, Iowa, Iowa, United States
- Shaffer, Samantha Elizabeth, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States, Iowa, Iowa, United States
- Swee, Melissa L., University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States, Iowa, Iowa, United States
- Ten Eyck, Patrick, Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States, Iowa, Iowa, United States
- Kennelty, Korey, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States, Iowa, Iowa, United States
- Reisinger, Heather, Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States, Iowa, Iowa, United States
- Jalal, Diana I., University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States, Iowa, Iowa, United States
Background
Previous studies have shown pharmacist-based interventions improve blood pressure (BP) control in individuals with hypertension. We evaluated provider attitudes towards clinical pharmacist support in the management of hypertension.
Methods
We surveyed primary care providers, internal medicine residents, nephrologists, cardiologists, nephrology and cardiology fellows, and nurse practitioners at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and the Iowa City VA Medical Center to determine the attitudes of providers towards clinical pharmacist management of high BP. Continuous data were summarized with medians and interquartile ranges and compared across strata using Wilcoxon rank sum tests. Categorical data were summarized with counts and percentages and compared across strata using Fisher’s Exact Tests.
Results
153 out of 413 providers completed the survey. We observed high confidence in the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension among all surveyed groups. Almost half (48%) indicated that they had never referred patients to the clinical pharmacist for management of BP medications and only 32% indicated they rarely did. Pharmacist utilization varied only slightly based on pharmacist availability. 70% agree that clinical pharmacists support clinical decision-making for the management of BP medications, improves the safety of treatment plans for patients taking BP medications, and reduces the burden on providers. Learners and primary care providers were less likely than non-learners and specialists, respectively to refer patients to a pharmacist for management of hypertension. Despite the conflicting evidence regarding home BP monitoring, 90% of the providers indicated that they ask their patients to monitor home BP and that they titrate medications according to home BP readings.
Conclusion
Clinical pharmacists are underutilized in our practice although providers expressed favorable perception of clinical pharmacists’ roles in the management of hypertension. Interventions are needed to improve pharmacist utilization in the management of hypertension.