The efficacy of multifaceted pharmacist intervention in outpatient diabetic patients with polypharmacy

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the use of multifaceted pharmacist intervention in the medication compliance of outpatient polypharmacy diabetic patients, and to evaluate the effectiveness of this multiple strategy on the medication compliance behavior, self-efficacy and medication knowledge of outpatient polypharmacy diabetic patients. Methods: The research design was quasi-experimental, and the research execution period is from September 1, 2022 to December 31, 2023. The participants were purposefully sampled. Elderly diabetes patients with polypharmacy were selected from the metabolism clinic of a regional teaching hospital in Taipei City. Participants were paired and assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group was then subjected to multiple intervention strategies for three months. The researcher conducted pretests, including self-reported responses to a medication compliance assessment questionnaire and physiological value measurement for middle-aged and elderly patients with diabetes. A follow-up post-test was administered after the 3-month intervention period. Results: Analyzes were performed using generalized estimating equations. The study found that after a three-month multi-intervention strategy, when the equation controlled for group and time, medication compliance behavior (B = 1.13, p = 0.006) and self-efficacy for appropriate medication use (B = 3.57, p = 0.006) and medication knowledge (B = 3.27, p < 0.001), the interaction effect reached a significant level. In addition, among the clinical physiological indicators, the interaction between weight (B =-0.20, p < 0.001) and BMI (B =-0.07, p < 0.001) reached a significant level, indicating that the experimental group can improve the medication intake of middle-aged and elderly diabetic patients with multiple medications. Cooperation behavior, self-efficacy for appropriate medication, medication knowledge, weight and BMI were significantly better than those of the control group. Conclusions: The study revealed significant improvements in medication adherence, self-efficacy in appropriate medication use, and medication knowledge among middle-aged and elderly diabetic patients with polypharmacy following 3-month course using multifaceted intervention strategy.