ABSTRACT
This study was intended to test whether counseling of surgical and cardiac patients by a pharmacist would improve patients drug compliance. Seventy-two patients were selected from the Surgical and the Cardiac units at King Faisal Specialists Hospital. Patients were assigned equally by random [using a numbering system] to either post-discharge care or control groups. All patients were interviewed upon discharge by the pharmacist. The pharmacist then followed those patients in the post-discharge care group by phone [every three days for up to eight weeks.] In addition, the post-discharge care group patients had access to the pharmacist via the phone. Patients in the control group were not followed-up by the pharmacist, nor had access to him by phone. Upon returning for their first medical visit [within eight weeks from the discharge date], all patients were interviewed by the same pharmacist. The results suggest that post-discharge care counseling was more effective in improving compliance, reducing the need to change the drug prescribed with patients, reducing the need to change the dose because of side effects, lower incidences of the drug related disease, and an overall better general outcome than traditional discharge counseling. Neither counseling method employed was a factor in reducing the need to seek emergency help. All patients were equally satisfied with the overall medical services they had received. In conclusion, surgical and cardiac patients benefited greatly by the post-discharge care counseling service provided by the pharmacist