Evaluation of Medicines Use Review in Slovenia

Medicines Use Review service (PUZ) has been officially introduced in Slovenian pharmacy practice in 2015 and has been offered to pharmacy customers by pharmacist, certified to provide the service. Patients can to talk to a pharmacist and discuss their medicines, how they use it and any issues or question they might have. We designed a study to evaluate how Medicines Use Review (PUZ) work and how it is reaching the set objectives. The objectives of the PUZ service are to address actual patient medicines use and consequently improve medication adherence, identify and solve drug related problems and enhance medication knowledge. Pharmacists, who are certified to provide the service, recognized the patients, who might need the service and invited them to participate in the study. The study consisted of two visits in 12 weeks' time period. Patients, who decided to participate, were randomly allocated in two groups - intervention and control. Both groups were interviewed and fulfilled questionnaires at visit 1 (V1). Afterwards the test group patients received PUZ. After 12 weeks both groups attended the visit 2 (V2), where they were re-interviewed and fulfilled questionnaires again. After the study completion also the patients from control group received PUZ due to ethical reasons.