28 May Design and Evaluation of Community Pharmacy Chronic Pain MedsCheck Trial
HealthConsult designed and are evaluating a cluster randomised controlled trial of a Chronic Pain MedsCheck service in community pharmacies. The service aims to prevent incorrect use and/or overuse of pain medication, and increase patients’ health literacy in regards to their pain medication.
Over 1,700 pharmacies nationally were randomly assigned to deliver one of two service models. Primary outcomes data is being collected by pharmacists using purpose-built software to compare changes in consumers medication use, pain severity, pain interference with normal activities, quality of life, ability to self-manage pain, health literacy and health service usage and satisfaction. Changes in consumers’ PBS and MBS data is also being analysed.
The evaluation also includes pharmacy case studies, and an activity-based costing study and economic evaluation to determine the most efficient service design and whether the service represents value for money.