Impact of pharmacist directed counseling on knowledge, attitude, practices and medication adherence among hypothyroidism patients: a quasi-experimental design

The pharmacist plays an important role in providing counseling services to patients suffering with various chronic disorders and to improve health outcomes. The study aims to evaluate the effect of pharmacist mediated counseling on Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) and medication adherence (MA) among hypothyroidism patients attending outpatient department of a secondary care referral hospital. This is a Quasi-Experimental design without control. A total of 403 patients were enrolled and subjected for KAP assessment by pre-validated questionnaire, and medication adherence levels by pill count and visual analogue scale methods. All patients were counselled by the pharmacist regarding hypothyroidism and its management. After three months, post-KAP and medication adherence levels were measured. Chi-square test was used to compare the adequacy of KAP levels. The paired t-test was used to compare mean medication adherence and mean KAP percentage levels. The mean KAP percentage levels were significantly improved after counselling (80.5±16.4; 86.2±15.7; 67.5±13.8) compared to before (34.1±21.7; 33.8±22.9; 24.5±20.9) with a P value less than <0.0001. There was a significant improvement in mean medication adherence levels measured by visual analogue scale method and pill count method after counselling (92.4±4.8, 97.4±3.2) compared to before counselling (76.8±6.8, 80.3±6.4). The study illustrates how pharmacist plays an integral part in improving medication adherence and KAP towards hypothyroidism management. Improving KAP and medication adherence levels will promote positive clinical outcomes and prevents complications associated with hypothyroidism.