Effect of medication therapy management services on medication-burden quality of life in hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Hemodialysis (HD) patients commonly receive polypharmacy leading to increased likelihood of drug related problems (DRPs) and poor quality of life. Medication Therapy Management (MTM) services discover and resolve DRPs and may specifically improve Medication-burden Quality of life (MBQoL) in HD patients. We aimed to assess the effect of MTM services on DRPs and MBQoL among HD patients. METHODS: A prospective pre-post study was conducted on 104 patients in an HD unit in Alexandria, Egypt. MBQoL was assessed at baseline and after three months of MTM sessions, using the Arabic, validated version of the Patient Reported Outcomes Measure of Pharmaceutical Therapy (PROMPT) questionnaire. Cohen's d test and multiple linear regression were used to assess the effect size of MTM and the factors affecting MBQoL, respectively. DRPs, adverse events and adherence were also monitored. RESULTS: MBQoL improved significantly after the implementation of MTM (Cohen's d=0.88, p < 0.01) with the largest effect size in the "medicine information and relation with healthcare providers" domain. DRPs decreased significantly after MTM implementation (11.97 ± 4.65 versus 7.63 ± 3.85 per patient, p<0.001). The mean adverse events per patient were also reduced (9.69 ± 4.12 versus 6.56 ± 3.77, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Applying MTM services presents an opportunity to improve care for HD patients by improving MBQoL, decreasing DRPs and adverse events.

Catastrophic Costs among Tuberculosis-Affected Households in Egypt: Magnitude, Cost Drivers, and Coping Strategies.

Despite national programs covering the cost of treatment for tuberculosis (TB) in many countries, TB patients still face substantial costs. The end TB strategy, set by the World Health Organization (WHO), calls for "zero" TB households to be affected by catastrophic payments by 2025. This study aimed to measure the catastrophic healthcare payments among TB patients in Egypt, to determine its cost drivers and determinants and to describe the coping strategies. The study utilized an Arabic-validated version of the TB cost tool developed by the WHO for estimating catastrophic healthcare expenditure using the cluster-based sample survey with stratification in seven administrative regions in Alexandria. TB payments were considered catastrophic if the total cost exceeded 20% of the household's annual income. A total of 276 patients were interviewed: 76.4% were males, 50.0% were in the age group 18-35, and 8.3% had multidrug-resistant TB. Using the human capital approach, 17.0% of households encountered catastrophic costs compared to 59.1% when using the output approach. The cost calculation was carried out using the Egyptian pound converted to the United States dollars based on 2021 currency values. Total TB cost was United States dollars (USD) 280.28 ± 29.9 with a total direct cost of USD 103 ± 10.9 and a total indirect cost of USD 194.15 ± 25.5. The direct medical cost was the main cost driver in the pre-diagnosis period (USD 150.23 ± 26.89 pre diagnosis compared to USD 77.25 ± 9.91 post diagnosis, p = 0.013). The indirect costs (costs due to lost productivity) were the main cost driver in the post-diagnosis period (USD 4.68 ± 1.18 pre diagnosis compared to USD 192.84 ± 25.32 post diagnosis, p < 0.001). The households drew on multiple financial strategies to cope with TB costs where 66.7% borrowed and 25.4% sold household property. About two-thirds lost their jobs and another two-thirds lowered their food intake. Being female, delay in diagnosis and being in the intensive phase were significant predictors of catastrophic payment. Catastrophic costs were high among TB households in Alexandria and showed wide variation according to the method used for indirect cost estimation. The main cost driver before diagnosis was the direct medical costs, while it was the indirect costs, post diagnosis.

A Community Pharmacy-Based Intervention in the Matrix of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Outcomes (CPBI-T2DM): A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Egypt has the ninth highest diabetes mellitus (DM) prevalence in the world. There is a growing interest in community involvement in DM management. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to evaluate the tailored diabetes care model (DCM) implementation in Alexandria governorate by community pharmacy-based intervention (CPBI) from a clinical, humanistic, and economic aspect. METHODS: This is a 6-month period cross-over cluster randomized control trial conducted in Alexandria. Ten clusters owing 10 community pharmacies (CPs) recruited 100 health insurance-deprived T2DM patients with >7% HbA1c in 6-months. The study was divided into 2 phases (3 months for each period) with a 1-month washout period in between. After CPs training on DCM, the interventional group received pictorial training for 45 minutes in first visit, and 15 minutes in weekly visits, whereas the control group patients received the usual care (UC). At baseline and end of each phase (3 months), patients had clinical and physical activity assessments, filled all forms of study questionnaire (knowledge, self-management, satisfaction, and adherence) and did all laboratory investigations (Fasting Blood Glucose [FBG]), HbA1c, protein-creatinine clearance (PCR), creatine clearance (GFR), and lipid profile. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the basal systolic and diastolic blood pressure between patients in the CBPI and UC groups, but the CBPI had significantly decreased the mean SBP and DBP by (P = .008, .040, respectively). Also, significant waist circumference and BMI reductions (-5.82 cm and -1.86 kg/m2, P = .001) were observed in the CBPI. The CBPI patients achieved a greater reduction in FBG and HbA1C than the UC patients (102 mg/dL and 1.9%, respectively P < .001). Also, significant reductions in total cholesterol, LDL, and triglyceride (-6.4, -15.4, and -6.3 mg/dL respectively, P = .001) were achieved in the CBPI group. No significant differences were found in HDL, GFR, and PCR. Moreover, significant improvements of behavior, score of knowledge, self-management, satisfaction, and adherence were observed in CBPI patients. After multivariate analysis, HbA1C readings were significantly influenced by baseline HbA1C and eating habits. The cost saving for CPBI was -1581 LE per 1% HbA1c reduction. CONCLUSION: This is the first study in Egypt that illustrated the positive impact of pictorial DCM delivered by CPBI collaborative care on clinical, humanistic, laboratory, and economic outcomes to local T2DM patients.