Convergence of tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus: time to individualise pharmaceutical care

Objective To assess the feasibility of providing a pharmacist-led pharmaceutical care service to patients with tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus. Setting The study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia. Methods Action research methodology was used. Main outcome measure Pharmaceutical care issues. Results The prevalence of diabetes mellitus among newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients was 15% (53/352). Out of 53 patients identified, 35 participated in the study. Patients’ ages ranged between 29 and 73 years (mean of 52 ± 10 years). The male: female ratio was 1.7:1. Pharmaceutical care issues identified by pharmacists were nonadherence, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, adverse drug reactions and individual patient’s medication related problems. Pharmacists were able to intervene and resolve some of the pharmaceutical care issues. Conclusion Pharmacists played an important role in integrating the provision of care for tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus by providing individualised pharmaceutical care management. There still remains a need to address logistic barriers that impinged on the ability to conduct the pharmaceutical care service to its full potential.