Impact of pharmacists providing a prescription review and monitoring service in ambulatory care or community practice

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the impact, on patient outcomes and costs to the healthcare system, of pharmacists reviewing and monitoring prescribing in ambulatory care or community practice. DATA SOURCES: We conducted a systematic search of published literature, up to and including 1998, on outcomes of prescription monitoring and review by pharmacists. Thirteen electronic databases were reviewed, along with a hand search of 11 journals known to publish pharmacy practice research. Fifty-five articles describing 50 comparative studies were identified. DATA EXTRACTION: Data were extracted including study design, clinical site, and results. A qualitative synthesis of the findings was conducted and methodological quality was appraised. DATA SYNTHESIS: Pharmacist-run services may be accompanied by improvements in clinical outcomes. Inconsistent definitions used in the research evaluated meant that an overall interpretation of a change in the incidence of compliance and adverse drug reactions was impossible. Other outcomes such as knowledge and satisfaction showed equivocal results overall. There was little or no change in quality of life where this was assessed. Savings in drug acquisition costs may have accrued, but it was impossible to calculate the magnitude. Pharmacist involvement produced a positive impact on cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: The heterogeneity of the studies found and the variety in quality of much of the research design prevent the rigorous assessment of the direction and magnitude of any changes reviewed. Further studies are required, which must be rigorously designed, with blind and independent assessment of clearly defined outcomes. In particular, there is a need to investigate the effect of such services on the incidence of adverse drug reactions and quality of life and to conduct robust cost-benefit analyses.