A study of a medication review service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (IMeRSe) in Australia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can experience inequitable access to health services. This study assessed the effectiveness of a culturally responsive medication management service (referred to as IMeRSe). METHOD This is a pre-post single-arm study involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services and community pharmacies. Participants had a chronic condition, were pregnant or postpartum within 2 years. Pharmacists wrote a collaborative Medicines Plan and made recommendations to clinicians. The primary outcome was serious medication-related problems 6-months post-IMeRSe. Secondary outcomes included medication adherence. RESULTS For 255 participants, mean serious medication-related problems reduced from 4.11 to 3.85 per 6 months at risk (incidence rate ratio, 0.93; 95% confidence interval, 0.86-1.01), although rates of potentially preventable medication-related hospitalisations remained similar. Significant improvements in medication adherence were observed. General practitioners accepted 709 of 762 pharmacist recommendations. DISCUSSION A culturally responsive medication management service delivered by community pharmacists can contribute to reduced serious medication-related problems, improved medication adherence and consumer empowerment.