A program utilizing community pharmacists to improve diabetes education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

• DOI: 10.1111/ijpp.12572
• Publication Date: 2019-08-09T12:26:39Z
• Authors: Yasmin Khan; Sarah Imershein; Melinda Maryniuk; Haleh Armian; Sarah Anwar Turki...; Aly H Bayoumi; Mohammed Yahia Al...; William C Hsu
• Keywords: Blood Glucose; Male; 4. Education; Saudi Arabia; Community Pharmacy Services; Middle Aged; Pharmacists; Medication Adherence; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Professional Role; 0302 clinical medicine; Patient Education as Topic; Surveys and Questionnaires; Diabetes Mellitus; Humans; Female; Program Development

Abstract Objective The aim of this program was to demonstrate that retail community pharmacists could successfully recruit, engage and counsel people with diabetes by serving as a trusted source information. We evaluated the outcomes clinical in preparation for wider roll out. Methods Joslin Diabetes Center collaborated Nahdi Medical Company, large pharmacy chain Saudi Arabia, offer ‘Let’s Talk About Diabetes’ (LTAD) program. LTAD consists four 1: 1 counselling sessions, approximately 20 min each, scheduled over 2–4 month period focus on medications, lab results, glucose monitoring doctor visits. Twenty-five completed education certification intensive on-site training deliver Results 25 11 locations enrolled 2639 individual customers into Of these, 1582 participated at least one session 1137 (71.9%) follow-up surveys. There were 380 paired HbA1C results which demonstrated reduction from 8.50% (69 mmol/mol) 7.32% (56 (P < 0.001). improvements awareness, attitudes towards medication adherence. Conclusion evaluation suggests pharmacy-led is feasible Arabia.