Evaluating the effectiveness of integrating a clinical pharmacist into a hidradenitis suppurativa clinic within the specialty of dermatology.

BACKGROUND

Ambulatory care pharmacists improve outcomes through medication management, adherence support, education and access to care. In dermatology, pharmacist integration is relatively new but may benefit patients with chronic conditions such as hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), which causes painful, inflammatory nodules and impaired quality of life.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the impact of a dermatology pharmacist on outcomes in patients with HS.

METHODS

A prospective, quasiexperimental study was conducted in monthly HS clinics with a dermatology pharmacy specialist. The primary outcome was the Hidradenitis Suppurativa Quality of Life (HiSQOL) score, assessing symptoms, emotional wellbeing and functioning. Surveys were completed at baseline and at 3 and 6 months. Secondary outcomes included pharmacist interventions, categorized as medication facilitation, optimization and wound care.

RESULTS

In total, 38 patients were seen and evaluated by the clinical pharmacist. All completed baseline surveys; 30 (79%) completed the 3-month and 19 (50%) completed the 6-month follow-up. Mean HiSQOL scores improved from 19.8 at baseline to 12.7 at 3 months and 10.5 at 6 months. Paired t-tests showed significant reductions from baseline to 3 months (P < 0.001), from baseline to 6 months (P = 0.006) and from 3 months to 6 months (P = 0.03). Wilcoxon signed-rank tests confirmed significance across all intervals. In total 174 pharmacist interventions were recorded: medication facilitation (48.9%), medication optimization (36.8%) and wound care (14.4%).

CONCLUSIONS

Incorporating a dermatology pharmacist in HS care significantly improves patients' quality of life and provides critical support in medication access and optimization and wound care.