Outcomes of the Implementation of Health Riders and Mail Services to Deliver Medications to Patients with Telepharmacy in Patients with Chronic Diseases at Vachiraphuket Hospital

Abstract

Objectives: 1) To develop drug delivery methods via Health Riders, where village health volunteers or hospital staff act as mobile units to deliver medications to patients’ homes, and via post, with telepharmacy services in  Vachira Phuket Hospital, 2) To compare the outcomes of pharmacy services provided via 4 channels including Health Rider, postal service, drugstores, and hospitals, and 3) To compare understanding of drug use and self-care among patients receiving services from all 4 channels. Method: This research was a mixed-method study. The study developed drug delivery via Health Riders and postal service, along with telepharmacy services, where pharmacists communicated with patients via the Mor Prom or Line platforms or telephone. The quantitative research was a quasi-experimental study that compared outpatients with chronic diseases in the experimental group who received pharmacy services via Health Riders (n=44), postal service (n=44), and drugstores (n=26), and the control group receiving pharmacy services from the hospital (n=44). Qualitative research employed patient interview on their problems and suggestions relating to the services. Results: The average times for the provision of pharmacy services in each method were significantly different (P<0.05). The service times via pharmacies, Health Riders, post and hospitals were 13, 7, 5 and 3 minutes, respectively.  The overall means of patient satisfaction with the services were significantly different (P<0.05). Means of the satisfaction with services via post, pharmacies, Health Riders, and hospitals were 4.68 ± 0.32, 4.66 ± 0.31, 4.64 ± 0.36, and 4.22 ± 0.51, respectively (out of 5 full scores). Understanding of medication use and appropriate self-care of patients receiving care from each channel was significantly different (P<0.05). That in patients receiving services via pharmacies, post, Health Riders, and hospitals were 4.46 ± 0.41, 4.23 ± 0.61, 4.19 ± 0.47, 4.07 ± 0.52 (out of 5 full scores), respectively. Conclusion: Patients are satisfied with the services via Health Riders and post together with telepharmacy services. This model allows more time for pharmacy services and leads to understanding of drug use and appropriate self-care, with no differences from the provision of service in the hospital and drugstores.