A randomised control trial to evaluate the clinical pharmacist's role in managing iron deficiency anaemia patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of clinical pharmacists in managing iron deficiency anaemia patients.

METHODS: A prospective parallel randomised controlled trial conducted in an outpatient clinic enrolled adult iron deficiency anaemia patients. Patients were randomised into either an intervention or a control group. Patients in the intervention group were followed closely by a clinical pharmacist who offered pharmaceutical care services and worked closely with physicians to manage iron deficiency anaemia. Patients in the control group received the usual medical care.

KEY FINDINGS: One hundred and four patients were enrolled in the study. Eighty-two patients completed the 4-6 week study, with 43 patients in the intervention group and 39 patients in the control group. By the end of the study, 86% of intervention group patients and 59% of control group patients reached their haemoglobin goal values, with statistically significant improvement in intervention group patients versus control group patients (P value = 0.006). Most of the clinical pharmacist's recommendations were adopted by physicians (83.9%).

CONCLUSION: Clinical pharmacist interventions improved iron deficiency anaemia patients' outcomes.