Introduction. Osteoporosis is undertreated despite effective pharmacotherapy due to poor patient persistence, adherence and limited medication management services.
Aims. To evaluate a medication management intervention for osteoporosis in community pharmacy.
Methods. Australian community pharmacists were trained to deliver an osteoporosis medication management intervention. The intervention was delivered to patients with diagnosed osteoporosis, and after 4 weeks and 12 months, the patients were followed up by the research team. Measures reported included pharmacists’ competency in service delivery, pharmacists’ and patients’ perceptions of service, dispensing records of osteoporosis medications, changes in patients’ self-reported adherence and beliefs about their osteoporosis medications.
Results. Five community pharmacies completed a total of 24 interventions over a 6-week trial period. 17 patients were available for follow up at 4 weeks, 14 were available at 12 months. Patients highly rated the intervention’s service quality. Pharmacists reported that providing the intervention is worthwhile for patients and provides professional satisfaction. The main barriers to service delivery were time and workload, particularly relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. There were no significant changes in patients’ self-reported adherence and beliefs about their osteoporosis medicines.
Discussion. An osteoporosis medication management intervention in community pharmacies can be feasible and acceptable for both patients and pharmacists.