Pharmacist Intervention for Glycemic Control in The Community
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2012-10-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Background: Approximately 1.9 million Canadians are living with diabetes and this is
estimated to increase by 75% over the next few decades. Pharmacists are front line primary
healthcare professionals who see patients with diabetes frequently and in Alberta, they have
been allowed to prescribe medications and order laboratory tests. As such, pharmacists could
systematically identify poorly controlled diabetes patients and provide greater access to
diabetes interventions to improve blood sugar control.
Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the effect of a community pharmacist
intervention on blood sugar control in individuals with poorly controlled diabetes.
Project description:
100 adults with type 2 diabetes and uncontrolled blood sugar will be defined by the
participating pharmacists. Blood sugar control is going to assessed using hemoglobin A1c test
(a blood test to measure individual's blood sugar control over the last 3 months). This test
requires obtaining a blood spot from the patient which will be obtained by pricking his/her
fingertip. Based on the hemoglobin A1c test result the pharmacist will assess the patient's
need for insulin glargine, if the patient needs insulin glargine the pharmacist is going to
prescribe it for him/her and educate him/her on its use. Patients are going to be followed up
closely by the pharmacists for 6 months with regular updates to the patients' family
physicians. This multi-centre study should demonstrate pharmacists' ability to improve
glycemic control and improve access to care.