Study of an Intervention to Improve Use of Life-saving Medications for Heart Disease (PILOT-EBM)

Patients enrolled in the intervention arm received inpatient education on the importance of medication and assessment of barriers to adherence. A pill box, pocket medication card, and tips for remembering to take medications were provided. The community pharmacist was notified of the subject's enrollment. The community pharmacist was asked to reinforce importance of evidence-based medications and assess the subject's medication adherence every 6 weeks for 6 months. If a problem was noted, the subject's health care team will be notified.

The intervention arm originally contained 71 subjects, 55 completed the 6 month follow-up phone call and 57 had refill records available at 6 months post-discharge. The periods listed here represent the same 6 month period with different numbers of particpants having the phone call or refill records available.

The usual care group received routine discharge counseling performed by the patient-care nurse and a letter/discharge summary from the hospital physician to the community physician listing the discharge medications, procedures, and recommendations. Enrolled patients in the usual care arm were not disclosed to the community pharmacy until the end of the study period when refill records were requested.

The control arm originally contained 72 subjects, 53 completed the 6 month follow-up phone call and 58 had refill records available at 6 months post-discharge. The periods listed here represent the same 6 month period with different numbers of particpants having the phone call or refill records available.