Purpose:
To determine if pharmacists in the community improve patient management of lower urinary tract symptoms.
Setting:
Community pharmacies in Edmonton and surrounding area
Participants:
Seniors who come to the community pharmacy
Design:
randomized controlled trial
Control group:
- Pharmacist asks some assessment questions about LUTS
- Pharmacist determines the baseline scores on the patient questionnaire
- Pharmacist provides a healthy aging pamphlet
- Pharmacist contacts the patient again at 6-8 weeks and determines the scores on the patient questionnaire
Intervention:
- Pharmacist follows the assessment questions regarding LUTS
- Pharmacist determines the baseline scores on the patient questionnaire
- Pharmacist follows the algorithm and identifies behavioural, lifestyle, and medications that affect LUTS
- Pharmacist works with patient to come up with plan to make changes to improve LUTS
- Pharmacist contacts patient’s family physician regarding the LUTS plan
- Pharmacist contacts patient at 3-4 weeks to review how plan is working
- Pharmacist contacts patient again at 6-8 weeks and determines the scores on the patient questionnaire
Study Rationale:
- Approximately half of seniors are affected by LUTS.
- LUTS negatively affects health, mobility, and socialization.
- Most seniors do not have this issue addressed or have long delays in diagnosis.
- Pharmacists in the community have the knowledge and skills to help seniors with LUTS.
- A pilot study in 2016 showed that pharmacists can effectively implement this intervention.
Research Team:
- Lead: Cheryl Sadowski, Professor, Faculty of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Research Assistant: Sarah M. Abu Fadaleh, Faculty of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Research Support: Yazid Al Hamarneh, EPICORE, University of Alberta
- Co-Investigators: Yazid Al Hamarneh, Ross Tsuyuki, Adrian Wagg, Kathleen Hunter, Jane Schulz
Approved by University of Alberta Research Ethics Board: April 2020
PILUTS Resources Library: