IMPROVE ADHERENCE TO HYDROXYUREA TO ACHIEVE CLINICAL OUTCOME IN SICKLE CELL DISEASE PATIENTS AT KING FAHAD UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Background: Non adherence to hydroxyurea in SCD patients becomes a major problem that needs immediate attention by health care providers, using patient counselling which in turn may increase rate of adherence that may contribute in improving their clinical outcomes and reduce hospitalization for pain crisis. Problem statements: Many sickle cell disease patients quit taking their hydroxyurea medication which in turn deteriorates their health status and increase rate of pain crisis. Hypothesis: Dose pharmacists counseling improve (SCD) patient’s adherence to hydroxyurea at king Fahad university hospital. Dose adherence to hydroxyurea can decrease rate of pain crisis. Objectives: To measures impact of pharmacist intervention on patient adherence to hydroxyurea and to decrease number of in-patient visits due to pain crisis. Methods: We used ……MMAS-4 items (to measure adherence level), Questionnaire for Data Collection and noted number of ER visits pre and post clinical pharmacist intervention (using hospital information system plus direct phone call to the patient). Results: Two of these patients before the counseling showed low adherence and two showed medium adherence. However after counseling there was a significantly better adherence as shown by decrease in total score. Post counseling patients two of them showed high adherence and two were medium adhere. Conclusion: We conclude that pharmacy counseling and education significantly increased adherence of medication in patients of sickle cell disease. However further study with large sample size and longer duration is required to substantiate the result