Patients healthier receiving drugs via mail, says study
New medical research suggests that receiving medication through the mail, rather than collecting it in person, is actually improving the health of heart disease patients. A study published in the latest issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that the convenience of mail-order medication meant that patients were more likely to keep up with their prescribed dosage than those pickup up drugs from their local brick-and-mortar pharmacy.
Research carried out by Julie Schmittdiel, an investigator in the Oakland-based research division of healthcare giant Kaiser Permanente, found that among patients taking anti-cholestrol tablets, 85% of those receiving their drugs through the mail were achieving their target cholestrol levels.
Only 74% of patients collecting their medication in person were achieving their cholestrol goals.
Schmittdiel said the results needed to be confirmed against other patient groups than the 100,298 patients in North California which she studied.
However, she said of her findings: “Mail-order pharmacy use may be associated with improved care and outcomes for patients for risk factors with cardiovascular disease.”
Previous research has also shown that mail-order pharmacy use is linked with patients sticking to their prescriptions more closely, though this was the first looking at patients with high risk of cardiovascular disease. Last year, similar results were seen in patients with diabetes.
Further research into the mail-order versus brick-and-mortar issue is ongoing.
Researchers point to the fact that those motivated to use the mail to receive medication may be more motivated to take care of their health.
The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association said home delivery was popular with patients in the United States because it can provide 90-day prescriptions that are less expensive than the 30-day prescriptions available from local drugstores.
PCMA President and CEO Mark Merritt said: “While everyone knows that mail-service pharmacies make prescriptions more affordable, this new study shows how they can also improve outcomes for patients with chronic conditions.”
