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The study is a randomized, controlled pre-test/post-test comprehensivediabetes intervention study conducted by community pharmacists in seven ruralor suburban areas across Tennessee. One of the key differences between thisstudy and similar studies is that the recruitment of subjects is physician-driven. The participating pharmacists, working collaboratively with referringphysicians and other members of the health care team, will play an active rolein the patients' diabetes management and will also be instrumental in thecoordination and development of a community referral network to meet specificpatient needs.
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"We believe that diabetes care delivered in a concerted and organizedmanner by pharmacists can lead to improvements in outcomes such as A1c, bloodpressure, low-density lipoproteins (LDL), high-density lipoproteins (HDL) andtriglycerides and also to a decrease in emergency room visits,hospitalizations and healthcare costs," said Baeteena Black, D.Ph., ExecutiveDirector of TPA. "This most generous grant from Roche Diagnostics will allowus to evaluate the difference in outcomes between usual diabetes care and apharmacy-based collaborative diabetes care program."
Usual care or care received by a control group is defined as the routinediabetes care typically provided in the study site communities by varioushealthcare professionals. Usual care subjects will be expected to completebaseline, 6-month and 12-month data collection visits. Participants willreceive an ACCU-CHEK(R) Aviva meter system and test strips for the length ofthe study. All subjects will receive training on the use and care of themeters and lancet devices.
Participants in the intervention group will receive individualized carefrom their site pharmacist, including testing, counseling and education onappropriate medication use, the monitoring of diabetes signs and symptoms, anddiabetes patient's self-care behaviors. Each subject in this group willreceive a personalized patient care plan, which will be shared with thesubject's primary health care provider, who can make any changes to the plan.
"If the effectiveness of this intervention group model is demonstratedthrough this study, then it may be implemented in other pharmacies throughoutTennessee," said Black.
"This is such an important study for now and the future as healthcarecosts associated with diabetes continue to increase rapidly." Black addedthat costs for the U.S. related to diabetes care, including complications andlost productivity, are about $174 billion a year. "There's good news, though,in that diabetes can be managed successfully with the help of a qualifiedhealthcare team. A small percentage of the $174 billion was spent on testingsupplies and medication. The bulk of the expense was related to emergency roomvisits, hospital stays and operations associated with diabetes complications."
About 1 million new diabetes cases are reported each year, and more than284,000 Americans lost their battle with diabetes in 2007.
About TPA and TPREF
The Tennessee Pharmacists Association is comprised of pharmacists fromevery practice setting including community, health-system, long-term care,academia, industry, consulting and more. The mission of TPA is to representthe profession of pharmacy as an integral component of the health caredelivery system to entities outside the profession; develop standards ofpractice which insure delivery of quality pharmaceutical care as a means ofprotecting and enhancing the
