Effect of pharmaceutical care programme on blood pressure and quality of life in a nigerian pharmacy

Objective The study aimed at evaluating the effect of pharmaceutical care programme on blood pressure and quality of life of patients who visit a Nigerian community pharmacy. Method A non-randomised, single-site, crossover design was used. Patients served as their own control. They underwent 5 months of usual care and another 5 months of pharmaceutical care. Main outcome measure Blood pressure and quality of life measured before implementation of pharmaceutical care and at the end served as main outcome measures. Other end-points assessed at baseline and at the end of investigation included smoking cessation, adherence to therapy, exercise, salt restriction, alcohol moderation and self blood pressure measurement. Results Twenty four (24) patients out of the 40 recruited completed the study. Mean reductions were significant after pharmaceutical care intervention for systolic BP (14.3 ± 14.4 mmHg) and diastolic BP (10.8 ± 10.7 mmHg). There was a significant mean increase in number of patients that adhered to salt restriction (−36%), aerobic exercise (−46%), self BP measurement (−46%), alcohol moderation (−33%) and drug adherence (−16.7%). There was a positive increase of −11.4 and −3.2 for physical health and social health domain of quality of life evaluation respectively. Conclusion Pharmaceutical care programme could produce a beneficial effect on hypertensive patients.