Impact of pharmacy services on cystic fibrosis medication adherence.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to characterize the impact of pharmacy services on medication adherence and hospitalizations for pediatric cystic fibrosis (CF) patients.

METHODS: A retrospective health insurance claims analysis and patient medical charts review from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2016 of patients from the Pediatric Intermountain CF Center was performed. Adherence to dornase alfa and hospital admissions for pulmonary exacerbations pre and post the implementation of an integrated pharmacy team were reviewed. Dornase alfa adherence was measured by the medication possession ratio (MPR) both monthly and yearly.

RESULTS: Fifty-four patients met inclusion criteria. The mean dornase alfa yearly MPR improved from 0.75 (2014) to 0.92 (2016). Patients were 2.8 times more likely to be adherent to dornase alfa when followed by integrated pharmacy team model (P < 0.001), and 2.4 times more likely to be adherent when followed by a dedicated CF clinic pharmacist only (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated that pharmacy services improved adherence to dornase alfa.