Table 1.

Evidence‐based pharmacist care for outpatients with heart failure (HF)

Intervention	Components of care
Medication review (Medicine Use Review) 22 , 25 , 28 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 34	‐ Check of current medication using prescription/dispensing data and/or brown‐bag interview 22 , 25 , 28 , 30 , 31 , 32 • Use as prescribed? • According to evidence‐based guidelines? • Potential for optimization: DRP such as double medication or drug/drug‐ or drug/food‐interactions, unreached target doses, complex or inconvenient dosing schemes, expired medication? • Self‐medication (use of OTC drugs)? ‐ Patient interview on current medication use 25 ‐ Discussing identified DRP and possible optimizations with treating physician(s)/multidisciplinary team 25 , 28 , 30 , 31 , 34
Adherence support 8 , 22 , 24 , 25 , 28 , 36 , 42	‐ Discussing reasons for non‐adherence with patients 8 ‐ Reinforcing medication adherence by explaining the importance for therapy success 8 , 28 , 42 ‐ Providing/preparing dosing aids 22 , 25 , 36 , 42 or specially labelled medication 24 •Explaining use of dosing aids considering the current drug regimen 42 ‐ Providing, updating, and explaining the current medication plan 22 , 25 , 28 or explaining the current drug regimen 24
Supporting symptom control 22 , 24 , 25	‐ Measuring blood pressure and pulse at pharmacy visits 25 ‐ Providing logs for self‐monitoring of weight, blood pressure and further vital signs 22 ‐ Monitoring of bodyweight records via database 24
Patient education on HF management 9 , 22 , 24 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 36 , 39 , 40 , 42	‐ Medication management 9 , 24 , 32 , 36 • Incorporating intake in daily routines • Self‐adjusting diuretic dosing ‐ HF disease 9 , 22 , 30 , 31 , 39 , 40 , 42 • Supporting knowledge and understanding of HF syndrome ▪ Symptoms, signs and causes for impairment • Supporting self‐monitoring ▪ Identifying symptoms/signs of fluid retention (oedema) ▪ Instructions on handling identified symptoms (immediate contact to treating physician, medicinal measures) ‐ (HF) medication 9 , 22 , 24 , 30 , 31 , 33 , 36 , 39 , 40 • Verbal explanation/written information leaflets on (newly) prescribed drugs ▪ Effects and side effects ‐ HF diet and lifestyle changes 30 , 31 , 40

DRP, drug‐related problem; HF, heart failure; OTC, over‐the‐counter (non‐prescription medicines).