Medication therapy management application and pharmacist readability to provide the service in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Badriyah Shadid Alotaibi, Nasser Hadal Alotaibi, Abdulaziz Alodhayani, Rneem Alsalamah, Amirah Alothman, Amani Almotairi, Khaled Nijr Alotaibi, Khlood Aldossary, Salem AlSuwaidan.

Introduction: Medication Therapy Management (MTM) is a service of comprehensive medication review (CMR) primarily provided by pharmacists. Objectives: Assess pharmacists as MTM services provider including (I)pharmacists' readiness, and capability, and (II)the barrier from implementing the service effectively. Then this paper aims to service the pharmacy profession to be more patient-centered oriented. Methodology: A cross-sectional study, all Saudi resident pharmacists were eligible. Data analysis using SPSS, a descriptive analysis, frequencies used. Qualified and professional candidates were chosen for data entry. Result: A total of 707 pharmacists were included. It has been concluded that any pharmacy profession eligible to provide MTM services from the varied responses of 37.4%,with only clinical pharmacists, 35.4%, with any pharmacists, and 27.1%, with experienced pharmacists. The most MTM potential categories were in the following order: polypharmacy, patients with 2 chronic diseases or more, uncontrolled condition then, patients with poor adherence. The most pointed out barriers from MTM implementation were workload, patients have no interest, and time consuming. The estimated average time per patient per minute for MTM provision was 3.11 ± 1.37 SD. The merited compensation per patient per minute in Saudi Riyal (SR), (1USD=3.75SR) for MTM provision. 28% responding pharmacists believed in offering the MTM service for free. 96%, responding pharmacists stated enjoying providing the service. Conclusion: Considering the most MTM potential patients mentioned, the highlighted barriers to be eliminated, and providing the suitable duration and pharmacists' compensation will guarantee the future benefit from MTM service implementation in Saudi Arabia.