A Quality Improvement Project to Address lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) by pharmacists in the community (PILUTS)

Posted on Posted in Highlighted Project

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 Centre, 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

 

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