The Quality of Advice Provided by Pharmacists to Patients Taking Direct Oral Anticoagulants: A Mystery Shopper Study

Jonathon Ertl, Leanne Chalmers, Luke Bereznicki, Jonathon Ertl, Leanne Chalmers, Luke Bereznicki

Abstract

Pharmacists report being less confident in their knowledge of direct acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) than of vitamin K antagonists, which may influence their ability to detect and manage complications arising from DOAC use. In a mystery shopper study, patient agents were sent into community pharmacies with symptom or product-related requests related to common complications that might arise during treatment with oral anticoagulants, with each visit being assessed for the preferred outcome. Only 10/41 (24.4%) visits resulted in the preferred outcome. A complete history-taking process, obtaining a medical history, patient characteristics and pharmacist involvement were strong predictors of the preferred outcome being achieved. The preferred outcome was not consistently achieved without pharmacist involvement. The potential for strategies that support comprehensive pharmacist involvement in over-the-counter requests should be considered to ensure the provision of optimal care to patients taking high-risk medications such as DOACs.

Keywords: community pharmacy; direct oral anticoagulant; patient agent; pharmacist; preferred outcome.

Conflict of interest statement

Luke Bereznicki and Leanne Chalmers have received consultancy funding from Aspen Pharmacare Australia outside this project. Luke Bereznicki has also received consultancy funding from Boehringer Ingelheim Pty Ltd. outside of this project. No author received a financial sponsor from a third party for this project.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Pharmacy recruitment process.

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Source: PubMed

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