Cost-Utility Analysis of a Medication Adherence Management Service Alongside a Cluster Randomized Control Trial in Community Pharmacy.

BACKGROUND: It is necessary to determine the cost utility of adherence interventions in chronic diseases due to humanistic and economic burden of non-adherence. PURPOSE: To evaluate, alongside a cluster-randomized controlled trial, the cost-utility of a pharmacist-led medication adherence management service (MAMS) compared with usual care in community pharmacies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The trial was conducted over six months. Patients with treatments for hypertension, asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were included. Patients in the intervention group (IG) received a MAMS based on a brief complex intervention, whilst patients in the control group (CG) received usual care. The cost-utility analysis adopted a health system perspective. Costs related to medications, healthcare resources and adherence intervention were included. The effectiveness was estimated as quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), using a multiple imputation missing data model. The incremental cost-utility ratio (ICUR) was calculated on the total sample of patients. RESULTS: A total of 1186 patients were enrolled (IG: 633; CG: 553). The total intervention cost was estimated to be €27.33 ± 0.43 per patient for six months. There was no statistically significant difference in total cost of medications and healthcare resources per patient between IG and CG. The values of EQ-5D-5L at 6 months were significantly higher in the IG [IG: 0.881 ± 0.005 vs CG: 0.833 ± 0.006; p = 0.000]. In the base case, the service was more expensive and more effective than usual care, resulting in an ICUR of €1,494.82/QALY. In the complete case, the service resulted in an ICUR of €2,086.30/QALY, positioned between the north-east and south-east quadrants of the cost-utility plane. Using a threshold value of €20,000/QALY gained, there is a 99% probability that the intervention is cost-effective. CONCLUSION: The medication adherence management service resulted in an improvement in the quality of life of the population with chronic disease, with similar costs compared to usual care. The service is cost-effective.

Servicio de identificación de discrepancias en el uso de los medicamentos en el entorno comunitario / Medication discrepancy identification service in community setting

Introducción: Los errores de medicación constituyen la causa evitable más común de los efectos adversos relacionados con la medicación y suponen una carga importante para la salud pública. El servicio de identificación de discrepancias en el entorno comunitario puede ser una estrategia útil para detectar estos errores en el ámbito comunitario. Hasta el momento, pocos estudios han analizado el papel del farmacéutico comunitario en la detección de discrepancias en el uso de los medicamentos. Objetivo: Desarrollar y estandarizar un procedimiento normalizado de trabajo para la detección de discrepancias en el uso de los medicamentos en el entorno comunitario. Métodos: El diseño del procedimiento se ha basado en estudios previamente publicados sobre el tema y teniendo en cuenta las Buenas Prácticas en Farmacia Comunitaria en España publicadas por el Consejo General de Colegios Oficiales de Farmacéuticos. Resultados: Se presenta un procedimiento del servicio de detección de discrepancias en el uso de medicamentos en el entorno comunitario y un diagrama de flujo que recoge los aspectos más importantes del procedimiento de forma visual. Conclusión: El documento recoge un procedimiento estandarizado para que el farmacéutico comunitario pueda detectar las discrepancias que existen en los medicamentos del paciente en su práctica diaria.(AU)

Introduction: Medication errors are the most common preventable causes of medication-related adverse effects and a major public health burden. The medication discrepancy identification service could be a useful strategy to detect those errors at the community level in the patient's day-to-day life, without requiring a transition of care. Up to now, few studies have studied the role of the community pharmacist in detecting medication discrepancies. Objective: To develop a standarized working procedure for the detection of medication discrepancies in the community setting. Methods: The design of the procedure has been carried out based on studies previously published and taking into account the Good Practices in Community Pharmacy in Spain published by the General Council of Official Pharmacists Association. Results: A procedure of the service for detecting medication discrepancies in the community setting is presented, summarized ina flow diagram that collects visually the most important aspects of the procedure. Conclusion: The document includes a standardized procedure for the community pharmacist to detect the discrepancies that exist in the medications of patient's day-to-day life.(AU)

El papel del farmacéutico comunitario en la detección y disminución de los errores de medicación: revisión sistemática exploratoria / The Role of the Community Pharmacist in Detecting and Decreasing Medication Errors: A Scoping Review

INTRODUCCIÓN: Los errores de medicación se encuentran entre las 10 principales causas de muerte en el mundo y en su mayoría son prevenibles. Los servicios profesionales farmacéuticos asistenciales (SPFA) tratan de garantizar un uso más seguro, efectivo y eficiente de los medicamentos, y por ello los farmacéuticos comunitarios pueden contribuir a reducir errores de la medicación a nivel de atención primaria. Este trabajo pretender ofrecer un marco de evidencia sobre las iniciativas llevadas a cabo por farmacéuticos comunitarios, a nivel estatal, para identificar, reducir o eliminar los errores de medicación en los diferentes puntos de la cadena terapéutica y plantear una revisión, de los puntos críticos de la cadena terapéutica y clasificar los SPFA. MÉTODO: Revisión sistemática exploratoria de bases de datos internacionales y estatales para obtener estudios publicados sobre la intervención del farmacéutico en la detección, reducción o eliminación de los errores de medicación. RESULTADOS: Se han recopilado 39 iniciativas que se han clasificado en 7 puntos críticos de la cadena terapéutica: (I) 7 en dispensación, (II) 4 en validación o revisión del tratamiento, (III) 3 en transición asistencial, (IV) 18 en monitorización del tratamiento, (V) 4 en educación a pacientes y (VI) 3 en indicación. CONCLUSIONES: Los SPFA llevados a cabo a nivel estatal demuestran que sirven para identificar y resolver los errores de medicación y se plantea una nueva clasificación de los 7 puntos de la cadena terapéutica que se identifican como críticos para la farmacia comunitaria y los relaciona con los SPFA que intervienen en cada uno de los puntos

INTRODUCTION: Medication errors, mostly preventable, are among the top 10 causes of death worldwide. Commu¬nity pharmacists provide professional pharmacy services (PPS) to ensure safer, more effective and efficient use of medications, being professionals who should be included in strategies to reduce medication errors at the primary care level. This work aims to offer an evidence framework on the initiatives carried out by community pharmacists, in Spain, to identify, reduce or eliminate medication errors at different points in the therapeutic chain and propose a classification of the critical points of the therapeutic chain to classify PPS. METHOD: Scoping review of international and national databases to obtain published studies where the community pharmacists provide an intervention to detect, reduce or eliminate of medication errors. RESULTS: 39 records have been compiled and have been classified in 7 critical points of the therapeutic chain: (I) 7 in dispensation, (II) 4 in validation/review of the treatment, (III) 3 in healthcare transition, (IV) 18 in treatment monitor¬ing, (V) 4 in education to patients and (VI) 3 in minor ailments service. CONCLUSIONS: The PPS carried out at the state level demonstrate that they serve to identify and resolve medication errors and a new classification of the critical points of the therapeutic chain that exist in the community pharmacy is proposed, and it relates to the PPS that are involved in each point

The medication discrepancy detection service: A cost-effective multidisciplinary clinical approach / Servicio de detección de discrepancias de la medicación: un estudio multidisciplinar y coste-efectivo

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effectiveness of a Medication Discrepancy Detection Service (MDDS), a collaborative service between the community pharmacy and Primary Care. DESIGN: Non-controlled before-and-after study. SETTING: Bidasoa Integrated Healthcare Organisation, Gipuzkoa, Spain. PARTICIPANTS: The service was provided by a multidisciplinary group of community pharmacists (CPs), general practitioners (GPs), and primary care pharmacists, to patients with discrepancies between their active medical charts and medicines that they were actually taking. Outcomes: The primary outcomes were the number of medicines, the type of discrepancy, and GPs' decisions. Secondary outcomes were time spent by CPs, emergency department (ED) visits, hospital admissions, and costs. RESULTS: The MDDS was provided to 143 patients, and GPs resolved discrepancies for 126 patients. CPs identified 259 discrepancies, among which the main one was patients not taking medicines listed on their active medical charts (66.7%, n = 152). The main GPs' decision was to withdraw the treatment (54.8%, n = 125), which meant that the number of medicines per patient was reduced by 0.92 (9.12 ± 3.82 vs. 8.20 ± 3.81; p < .0001). The number of ED visits and hospital admissions per patient were reduced by 0.10 (0.61 ± .13 vs 0.52 ± 0.91; p = .405 and 0.17 (0.33 ± 0.66 vs. 0.16 ± 0.42; p = .007), respectively. The cost per patient was reduced by (Euro)444.9 ((Euro)1003.3 ± 2165.3 vs. (Euro)558.4 ± 1273.0; p = .018). CONCLUSION: The MDDS resulted in a reduction in the number of medicines per patients and number of hospital admissions, and the service was associated with affordable, cost-effective ratios

OBJETIVOS: Estimar la efectividad del servicio de detección de discrepancias de la medicación, un servicio de colaboración entre la farmacia comunitaria y la atención primaria. DISEÑO: Estudio de intervención antes-después, sin grupo control. Emplazamiento: Organización Sanitaria Integrada de Bidasoa, Gipuzkoa, España. PARTICIPANTES: El servicio fue ofrecido por un grupo multidisciplinar que incluía farmacéuticos comunitarios (FC), médicos de atención primaria (MAP) y farmacéuticos de atención primaria a pacientes que presentaban discrepancias entre la medicación prescrita en la hoja de tratamiento activo y lo que realmente estaban tomando. Mediciones principales: Las variables principales del estudio fueron el número de medicamentos, tipo de discrepancia y la decisión del MAP. Las variables secundarias fueron tiempo invertido por el farmacéutico, visitas al servicio de urgencias, ingresos hospitalarios y los costes. RESULTADOS: El servicio se ofreció a 143 pacientes, y el MAP resolvió las discrepancias de un total de 126 pacientes. El FC identificó 259 discrepancias de las cuales la mayoría fue que el paciente no estaba tomando un medicamento prescrito (66,7%, n = 152). En la mayoría de los casos, la decisión del MAP fue suspender el tratamiento (54,8%, n = 125); el número de medicamentos que tomaba el paciente se redujo en un 0,92 (9,12 ± 3,82 vs. 8,20 ± 3,81; p < 0,0001). El número de visitas al hospital y los ingresos hospitalarios se redujeron en 0,10 (0,61 ± 0,13 vs. 0,52 ± 0,91; p = 0,405) y 0,17 puntos (0,33 ± 0,66 vs. 0,16 ± 0,42; p = 0,007), respectivamente. El coste por paciente se redujo en 444,9 (Euro) (1.003,3 ± 2.165,3 vs. 558,4 (Euro) ± 1.273,0; p = 0,018). CONCLUSIÓN: El servicio redujo el número de medicamentos que tomaba el paciente e ingresos hospitalarios y esto se relacionó con unos ratios de coste-efectividad positivos

Community pharmacist interventions to improve adherence to lipid lowering medication and their influence on clinical outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Non-adherence is a major problem among patients with chronic diseases. Community pharmacists are ideally positioned to detect non-adherence and to provide patient-centred interventions. OBJECTIVE: To conduct a systematic review of the impact of community pharmacist interventions on patient adherence to lipid lowering medication (LLM) prescriptions and clinical outcomes. SEARCH METHOD: Five databases (MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, Scopus, and Web of Knowledge) were searched systematically to identify relevant reports published by December 2019. Study quality was assessed with the Cochrane risk of bias (RoB 2.0) tool. SELECTION CRITERIA: Controlled trials in which community pharmacists conducted an intervention to improve patient adherence to LLM and clinical outcomes were evaluated. MAIN RESULTS: Five studies (2408 participants) were included in the qualitative analysis. Four studies (n = 2266) were pooled in the meta-analysis. Participants in the intervention group (IG) had better adherence than those in the control group (CG) [odds ratio (OR) = 1.67; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.38-2.02; P < 0.001; I2 = 54%]. Better adherence rates were obtained when adherence was measured with validated questionnaires than when medication-possession ratio (MPR) measurements were used. Total cholesterol (TC) levels were not included in the meta-analysis due to data variability among the studies. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacist-led intervention can improve LLM adherence, but its influence on clinical outcomes, including lipid level control, remains to be clarified.

The medication discrepancy detection service: A cost-effective multidisciplinary clinical approach.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effectiveness of a Medication Discrepancy Detection Service (MDDS), a collaborative service between the community pharmacy and Primary Care. DESIGN: Non-controlled before-and-after study. SETTING: Bidasoa Integrated Healthcare Organisation, Gipuzkoa, Spain. PARTICIPANTS: The service was provided by a multidisciplinary group of community pharmacists (CPs), general practitioners (GPs), and primary care pharmacists, to patients with discrepancies between their active medical charts and medicines that they were actually taking. OUTCOMES: The primary outcomes were the number of medicines, the type of discrepancy, and GPs' decisions. Secondary outcomes were time spent by CPs, emergency department (ED) visits, hospital admissions, and costs. RESULTS: The MDDS was provided to 143 patients, and GPs resolved discrepancies for 126 patients. CPs identified 259 discrepancies, among which the main one was patients not taking medicines listed on their active medical charts (66.7%, n=152). The main GPs' decision was to withdraw the treatment (54.8%, n=125), which meant that the number of medicines per patient was reduced by 0.92 (9.12±3.82 vs. 8.20±3.81; p<.0001). The number of ED visits and hospital admissions per patient were reduced by 0.10 (0.61±.13 vs 0.52±0.91; p=.405 and 0.17 (0.33±0.66 vs. 0.16±0.42; p=.007), respectively. The cost per patient was reduced by €444.9 (€1003.3±2165.3 vs. €558.4±1273.0; p=.018). CONCLUSION: The MDDS resulted in a reduction in the number of medicines per patients and number of hospital admissions, and the service was associated with affordable, cost-effective ratios.

Effect of health professional intervention on adherence to statin use according to the cause of patient non-adherence.

Background Non-adherence is a problem that particularly affects those with chronic diseases. Studying causes for not following the treatment is necessary to choose the best intervention to improve non-adherence. Objective Analyze how the intentionality of non-adherence modulates the effects of professional intervention in patients with hypercholesterolemia. Setting: Community pharmacies and primary care centres in Spain. Methods A 6-month randomized controlled trial was conducted in 46 community pharmacies and 50 primary care centres in Spain. Adherence to statin therapy was measured with the Morisky-Green-Levine test. Non-adherence was classified based on the intentionality. Results 746 Patients were recruited for the study (465 non-adherent and 281 adherent). Of those, 237 were randomly assigned to the intervention group and 228 to the non-intervention group. The 56.5% of non-adherent patients were classified as unintentional non-adherents and 43.5% as intentional non-adherents. More patients in the intervention group finished being adherent compared with the non-intervention group (+ 17.2% for intentional non-adherents and + 27.4% for unintentional non-adherence). The percentage of patients in the intervention group who completed the study as adherent was higher among those who previously had unintentional non-adherence (66.4%) compared to those with intentional non- adherence (55.3%) (p < 0.001). Conclusion Intervention provided to patients with unintentional non-adherence was more effective than intervention provided to patients with intentional non- adherence.

Tailored interventions by community pharmacists and general practitioners improve adherence to statins in a Spanish randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of health professionals' intervention on adherence to statins, the influence on total cholesterol levels, and lifestyle patterns in patients with hypercholesterolemia and analyze the differences according to the center of recruitment. STUDY SETTING: Forty-six community pharmacies and 50 primary care centers of Spain. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial design (n = 746). Patients were assigned into adherent (ADH) or nonadherent group depending on their initial adherence to statins. Nonadherent patients were randomly assigned to intervention (INT) or nonintervention (NOINT) group. Patients enrolled in the INT group received an intervention depending on the cause of nonadherence. Patients in the ADH and NOINT groups received usual care. Intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis was performed with multiple imputation to replace the missing data. DATA COLLECTION: Adherence, total cholesterol levels, and lifestyle behaviors. FINDINGS: The odds of becoming adherent during the 6 months was higher in the INT group compared to the NOINT group (OR = 1,49; 95% CI: 1.30-1.76; P < 0.001), especially in the community pharmacy group (OR = 2.34; 95% CI: 1.81-3.03; P < 0.001). Adherent patients showed lower values of total cholesterol compared with nonadherent patients at baseline (ADH: 200.3 mg/dL vs NOADH: 216.7 mg/dL; P < 0.001) and at the endpoint (ADH: 197.3 mg/dL vs NOADH: 212.2 mg/dL; P < 0.001). More patients enrolled in the INT group practices exercise at the end of the study (INT: +26.6 percent; P = 0.002), and a greater number of patients followed a diet to treat hypercholesterolemia (+30.2 percent; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The intervention performed by health professionals, especially by community pharmacists, improved adherence to statins by hypercholesterolemic patients, and this improvement in adherence was accompanied by a reduction in total cholesterol levels and a healthier lifestyle.

Defining and characterising age-friendly community pharmacies: a qualitative study.

INTRODUCTION: The Global Network of Age-friendly Cities is a project promoted by the World Health Organization as a response to demographic ageing and urbanization process. San Sebastian, Spain, is one of these Age-friendly Cities and community pharmacies of the city joined the initiative. OBJECTIVE: To define and implement the Age-friendly Pharmacy concept to promote active ageing, optimize the contribution of community pharmacies of San Sebastian to the friendliness of the city and to the improvement of quality of life of the ageing population. METHOD: A bottom-up participative approach was undertaken. A focus group was conducted to determine elderly people's opinions and expectations of community pharmacy. The information obtained was analysed using content analysis and validated for reliability, usefulness and applicability through three expert groups of community pharmacy owners and staff. KEY FINDINGS: Fifteen requirements were agreed, covering four main areas: relationships, pharmacy layout, pharmaceutical services and communication of services. Initially, 18 community pharmacies committed to become Age-friendly Pharmacies by pledging to these requirements and the Official Pharmacist Association of Gipuzkoa supported pharmacies in the implementation of the initiative. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that there is demand for a patient-centred community pharmacy to support older people, in which pharmaceutical care services are required. The 18 Age-friendly Pharmacies together with the Official Pharmacist Association of Gipuzkoa have publicly committed to actively work on social and patient-centred care to meet the needs of the ageing population.

Cost analysis for the implementation of a medication review with follow-up service in Spain.

Background Medication review with follow-up (MRF) is a professional pharmacy service proven to be cost-effective. Its broader implementation is limited, mainly due to the lack of evidence-based implementation programs that include economic and financial analysis. Objective To analyse the costs and estimate the price of providing and implementing MRF. Setting Community pharmacy in Spain. Method Elderly patients using poly-pharmacy received a community pharmacist-led MRF for 6 months. The cost analysis was based on the time-driven activity based costing model and included the provider costs, initial investment costs and maintenance expenses. The service price was estimated using the labour costs, costs associated with service provision, potential number of patients receiving the service and mark-up. Main outcome measures Costs and potential price of MRF. Results A mean time of 404.4 (SD 232.2) was spent on service provision and was extrapolated to annual costs. Service provider cost per patient ranged from €196 (SD 90.5) to €310 (SD 164.4). The mean initial investment per pharmacy was €4594 and the mean annual maintenance costs €3,068. Largest items contributing to cost were initial staff training, continuing education and renting of the patient counselling area. The potential service price ranged from €237 to €628 per patient a year. Conclusion Time spent by the service provider accounted for 75-95% of the final cost, followed by initial investment costs and maintenance costs. Remuneration for professional pharmacy services provision must cover service costs and appropriate profit, allowing for their long-term sustainability.

Cost analysis and cost-benefit analysis of a medication review with follow-up service in aged polypharmacy patients.

BACKGROUND: Drug related problems have a significant clinical and economic burden on patients and the healthcare system. Medication review with follow-up (MRF) is a professional pharmacy service aimed at improving patient's health outcomes through an optimization of the medication. OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the economic impact of the MRF service provided in community pharmacies to aged polypharmacy patients comparing MRF with usual care, by undertaking a cost analysis and a cost-benefit analysis. METHODS: The economic evaluation was based on a cluster randomized controlled trial. Patients in the intervention group (IG) received the MRF service and the comparison group (CG) received usual care. The analysis was conducted from the national health system (NHS) perspective over 6 months. Direct medical costs were included and expressed in euros at 2014 prices. Health benefits were estimated by assigning a monetary value to the quality-adjusted life years. One-way deterministic sensitivity analysis was undertaken in order to analyse the uncertainty. RESULTS: The analysis included 1403 patients (IG: n = 688 vs CG: n = 715). The cost analysis showed that the MRF saved 97 € per patient in 6 months. Extrapolating data to 1 year and assuming a fee for service of 22 € per patient-month, the estimated savings were 273 € per patient-year. The cost-benefit ratio revealed that for every 1 € invested in MRF, a benefit of 3.3 € to 6.2 € was obtained. CONCLUSION: The MRF provided health benefits to patients and substantial cost savings to the NHS. Investment in this service would represent an efficient use of healthcare resources.

The impact of a medication review with follow-up service on hospital admissions in aged polypharmacy patients.

AIMS: The aims were to assess the impact of a medication review with follow-up (MRF) service provided in community pharmacy to aged polypharmacy patients on the number of medication-related hospital admissions and to estimate the effect on hospital costs. METHODS: This was a sub-analysis of a cluster randomized controlled trials carried out in 178 community pharmacies in Spain. Pharmacies in the intervention group (IG) provided a comprehensive medication review during 6 months. Pharmacists in the comparison group (CG) delivered usual care. For the purposes of this sub-analysis, an expert panel of three internal medicine specialists screened the hospitalizations occurring during the main study, in order to identify medication-related hospitalizations. Inter-rater reliability was measured using Fleiss's kappa. Hospital costs were calculated using diagnosis related groups. RESULTS: One thousand four hundred and three patients were included in the main study and they had 83 hospitalizations. Forty-two hospitalizations (50.6%) were medicine-related, with a substantial level of agreement among the experts (kappa = 0.65, 95% CI 0.52, 0.78, P < 0.01). The number of medication-related hospitalizations was significantly lower in patients receiving MRF (IG 11, GC 31, P = 0.042). The probability of being hospitalized was 3.7 times higher in the CG (odds ratio 3.7, 95% CI 1.2, 11.3, P = 0.021). Costs for a medicine-related hospitalization were €6672. Medication-related hospitalization costs were lower for patients receiving MRF [IG: €94 (SD 917); CG: €301 (SD 2102); 95% CI 35.9, 378.0, P = 0.018]. CONCLUSION: MRF provided by community pharmacists might be an effective strategy to balance the assurance of the benefit from medications and the avoidance of medication-related hospitalizations in aged patients using polypharmacy.

Cost-utility analysis of a medication review with follow-up service for older adults with polypharmacy in community pharmacies in Spain: the conSIGUE program.

BACKGROUND: The concept of pharmaceutical care is operationalized through pharmaceutical professional services, which are patient-oriented to optimize their pharmacotherapy and to improve clinical outcomes. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to estimate the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of a medication review with follow-up (MRF) service for older adults with polypharmacy in Spanish community pharmacies against the alternative of having their medication dispensed normally. METHODS: The study was designed as a cluster randomized controlled trial, and was carried out over a time horizon of 6 months. The target population was older adults with polypharmacy, defined as individuals taking five or more medicines per day. The study was conducted in 178 community pharmacies in Spain. Cost-utility analysis adopted a health service perspective. Costs were in euros at 2014 prices and the effectiveness of the intervention was estimated as quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). In order to analyze the uncertainty of ICER results, we performed a non-parametric bootstrapping with 5000 replications. RESULTS: A total of 1403 older adults, aged between 65 and 94 years, were enrolled in the study: 688 in the intervention group (IG) and 715 in the control group (CG). By the end of the follow-up, both groups had reduced the mean number of prescribed medications they took, although this reduction was greater in the IG (0.28 ± 1.25 drugs; p < 0.001) than in the CG (0.07 ± 0.95 drugs; p = 0.063). Older adults in the IG saw their quality of life improved by 0.0528 ± 0.20 (p < 0.001). In contrast, the CG experienced a slight reduction in their quality of life: 0.0022 ± 0.24 (p = 0.815). The mean total cost was 977.57 ± 1455.88 for the IG and 1173.44 ± 3671.65 for the CG. In order to estimate the ICER, we used the costs adjusted for baseline medications and QALYs adjusted for baseline utility score, resulting in a mean incremental total cost of -250.51 ± 148.61 (95 % CI -541.79 to 40.76) and a mean incremental QALY of 0.0156 ± 0.004 (95 % CI 0.008-0.023). Regarding the results from the cost-utility analysis, the MRF service emerged as the dominant strategy. CONCLUSION: The MRF service is an effective intervention for optimizing prescribed medication and improving quality of life in older adults with polypharmacy in community pharmacies. The results from the cost-utility analysis suggest that the MRF service is cost effective.