Chronic diseases, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, and cancer, impact millions of people across Canada. In fact, in 2023, around 46% of Canadians (nearly 1 in 2) were living with at least one major chronic disease. These diseases can affect the ability to carry out daily activities, reduce overall quality of life, and increase the risk of dying prematurely (1).
Alongside lifestyle changes, education, and other supportive therapies, medication generally plays an important role in treating chronic diseases and preventing them from getting worse (2). That said, managing medications can be challenging. Around 26% of Canadians report taking their medications differently than instructed by a healthcare provider, while 21% report that they’ve stopped medications earlier than instructed or without discussing this with their healthcare provider. A range of factors can contribute to these experiences, including medication costs or lack of insurance coverage, negative side effects, difficulty understanding the health information and instructions provided, symptoms improving and leading to the feeling that medication is no longer needed, or forgetting to take medication (3). When these challenges are combined with barriers to accessing in-person health care services, like living in a remote or rural area, having limited mobility, or lacking reliable transportation, it’s easy to see how managing medications can sometimes be easier said than done (2).
As technology and the role of pharmacists within the healthcare team evolve, researchers have begun investigating remote pharmacist support. This support can include medication advice, health monitoring, and other services delivered through mobile apps, video calls, phone calls, and other forms of electronic communication. But can remote services help people living with chronic diseases take their medications as prescribed and improve health outcomes? Let’s explore what a recent systematic review found among people receiving care outside a hospital setting (2).
What the research tells us
The review found that compared to standard face-to-face care, remote pharmacist support may help people living with chronic diseases take their medications as instructed by their healthcare provider. It may also decrease systolic and diastolic blood pressure. However, the current evidence for these outcomes is of low certainty, meaning more high-quality research is needed and could change our understanding of the effects.
Where does the evidence stand on other health outcomes? Well, moderate certainty evidence suggests that remote pharmacist support likely has little to no impact on long-term blood sugar control. Additionally, the results didn't demonstrate consistent benefits for quality of life, hospital admissions, and visits to the emergency department (2).
Although further research is needed to confirm the potential benefits of remote pharmacist support, these services may still be worth exploring, especially for people who face barriers accessing in-person care.
If you’re living with a chronic disease and find managing your medications difficult, talk to your healthcare team, including your pharmacist, about what’s making it challenging and what support may be available. If travelling to appointments is difficult, ask whether remote services are offered and discuss which electronic communication methods, such as phone calls, video calls, or mobile apps, best suit your needs and preferences.
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