Evaluation of Medication Management Service

Medication management services (MMS) is a pharmacist-led service of optimizing the medication use and health outcomes, by promoting medication safety and enhancing the ability in self-management of health and diseases of patients and their caregivers. Yet, only limited evidence on the implementation of MMS service in Hong Kong is available. The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the cost effectiveness and effects of implementing MMS in community pharmacies owned by 8 non-government organizations (NGOs) in Hong Kong on humanistic and clinical outcomes in patients with hypertension and/or type II diabetes mellitus. The clinical trial aims to look into the following aspects:

* To evaluate the perception and satisfaction of patients on MMS service * To investigate whether MMS could improve patients' adherence to their medication regimen, health-related quality of life, health outcomes and health service utilization, as well as their ability to understand and cope with their illness and drug-related problems * To identify and categorize the types of drug-related problems identified during MMS * To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of implementing MMS in community pharmacies

MMS services will be rolled out in a total of 8 NGO community pharmacies progressively (2 pharmacies per phase) in 4 successive phases. Participants will complete the questionnaires at the following time points throughout the trial, namely 1) during recruitment, 2) baseline (1 month before MMS), 3) 3 months after MMS begins, 4) 12 months after MMS begins, and 5) 24 months after MMS begins. Researchers will compare the results of questionnaires conducted at different time points to identify the potential changes in the effects of MMS. Furthermore, researchers will link up the electronic health records of the participants and identify the potential changes in the health outcomes and health service utilizations after receiving MMS.