Investigation on the Use of an Automated Question-and-Answer Post-Dispensing Follow-up Application during the Medication Period

Yoshiko Tominaga; Ayumi Okizaki; Masaki Suzuki; Nobuyasu Sugimoto; Kozo Tada; Tomoya Kudo; Kuniko Shinohara

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Investigation on the Use of an Automated Question-and-Answer Post-Dispensing Follow-up Application during the Medication Period

VernacularTitle:服薬期間中における質問自動送信型服薬フォローアップアプリケーションの使用実態に関する研究
Author: Yoshiko TOMINAGA ¹ ; Ayumi OKIZAKI ² ; Masaki SUZUKI ³ ; Nobuyasu SUGIMOTO ⁴ ; Kozo TADA ⁵ ; Tomoya KUDO ⁶ ; Kuniko SHINOHARA ²
Author Information

1. Research Department of Social Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Niigata University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Science
2. KAKEHASHI Inc.
3. mSEED Co., Ltd.
4. Wakaba Co.
5. Full Ties Co.
6. GREENMEDIC Co., Ltd.
Keywords: follow up care; application software; community pharmacy services; community pharmacists; mobile applications
From:Japanese Journal of Drug Informatics 2023;25(3):143-149
CountryJapan
Language:Japanese
Abstract: Objective: Continuous medication management is demanded from community pharmacists, including mandatory follow-ups (FUs) during the medication period. To improve their efficiency and quality, a software application (app) is being introduced. We investigated the use of the app for FUs by comparing it to the use of phone calls.Design: This was a retrospective studythat collected FU records from participating pharmacies.Methods: FU records of an automated question-and-answer post-dispensing app and phone calls made at 10 pharmacies in June-July 2021 were collected. Differences in the work time and contents of each FU tool were evaluated.Results: Of the 138 eligible cases, 69 (50.0%) used the app and 62 (44.93%) used phones. There was 1 case of FU interruption using the app and 12 for those using phone calls. Preparation time to initiate FU was shorter using the app than phone calls (0.28 ± 0.96 min vs. 5.06 ± 5.44 min). Moreover, there were more cases of pharmaceutical problems identified using the app than phone calls (69.57% vs. 35.48%).Conclusion: The FU app maybe a more efficient tool for identifying problems than phone calls. Further studies are needed to optimize the tool according to patient characteristics.