Abstract:
Objectives: To evaluate the effects of education and counseling provided by a clinical pharmacist on diabetic outpatients. Methods: A two-way mixed design experimental study was conducted during August, 2003 to February, 2004 at diabetic clinic, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. One hundred and forty-five subjects were randomly matched and assigned into experimental group and control group based on fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and knowledge scores. An experimental group of 71 patients received education and counseling while a control group of 74 patients did not. Outcomes variables were evaluated in terms of 1) knowledge about disease, self-care management, and diabetic medication; 2) attitudes toward society and self-adaptation, perception and understanding of medication and disease, and attitudes toward pharmacists; 3) changes in quality of life; 4) satisfaction with diabetic clinic services and pharmacist services; 5) changes in clinical outcomes (FPG, A1C, fructosamine and lipid profiles); 6) health care utilization; and 7) cost of the education and counseling service. Data were collected using standardized survey interview and self-assessment questionnaire at baseline, first, and second follow up on 3-month appointment. Two-way ANOVA with repeated measure on one factor and Chi-square test were used to analyze data. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in demographic data, disease status, self-care, and clinical data about disease control between experimental and control group at baseline. Results indicated that provided education and counseling had significant effects on knowledge, attitudes, quality of life in mental component, satisfaction, plasma glucose level, and health care utilization of patients (p < 0.05), especially health care utilization in the part of admissions and emergency department visits in the experimental group was significantly lower than control group (p < 0.05). However there were no significant differences in the quality of life in physical component and lipid levels for both groups (p > 0.05). The cost of counseling service in this study ranged from 20.67-63.27 baht per patient per times. Conclusions: Education and counseling provided by a clinical pharmacist can significantly improve patients' knowledge, attitudes, quality of life in mental component, satisfaction, clinical outcomes and health care utilization.