Cost effectiveness of a pharmacy-based coaching programme to improve adherence to antidepressants.

Introduction: The efficacy of antidepressants in the treatment of depression has been convincingly demonstrated in randomised trials. However, non-adherence to antidepressant treatment is common.

Objective: To evaluate, from a societal perspective, the cost effectiveness of a pharmacy-based intervention to improve adherence to antidepressant therapy in adult patients receiving treatment in primary care.

A pharmacy-based coaching program to improve adherence to antidepressant treatment among primary care patients.

The effects on adherence and depressive symptoms of a community pharmacy-based coaching program, including a take-home videotape, were evaluated in a randomized controlled trial in the Netherlands. A total of 147 depressed primary care patients who had a new antidepressant prescription were included in the study. Adherence was measured with an electronic pill container and was also derived from pharmacy medication records; the latter method was associated with an overestimation of adherence of only 5 percent.

Impact of coaching by community pharmacists on drug attitude of depressive primary care patients and acceptability to patients; a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To investigate whether an intervention by Dutch community pharmacists improves the drug attitude of depressive patients, who are prescribed a nontricyclic antidepressant by their general practitioner (GP).

Method: A randomized controlled trial with a 3-month follow-up was conducted among consecutive general practice patients who go to 19 pharmacists for antidepressants. The trial consisted of a control group (n=79) that received usual care and an intervention group (n=69) that received three drug coaching contacts at the pharmacy and a 25-min take-home video on the background of depression and the effects of medication.