PHARMACIST-LED ECONOMIC STUDIES: A SCOPING REVIEW OF RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIALS
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Date
2025-08-18
Authors
Abu Eisheh, Haneen
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
An-Najah National University
Abstract
Background: Pharmacist-led interventions have gained recognition for their role in enhancing patient outcomes and healthcare efficiency. However, a comprehensive understanding of their economic impact, particularly within randomized controlled trials (RCTs), remains limited.
Objective: This scoping review aimed to systematically map the global literature on economic evaluations (EEs) of pharmacist-led interventions in RCTs published between 2003 and 2023.
Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Embase was conducted to identify RCTs featuring pharmacist-led interventions and reporting full EEs. Data were charted on study characteristics, intervention types, EE methods and outcomes.
Results: A total of 48 studies were included. Most evaluated pharmacist-led medication review and patient education interventions. The majority employed cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) and consistently demonstrated that pharmacist-led interventions were cost-effective. However, notable evidence gaps remain, particularly the absence of studies from low-income countries and in public health areas such as immunization and screening.
Conclusion: Pharmacist-led interventions in RCTs consistently demonstrate positive economic value, especially in chronic disease management. To maximize their impact on health systems, policymakers should prioritize integrating pharmacists into multidisciplinary care and support the implementation of pharmacist-driven services. Nevertheless, critical evidence gaps remain. Future research should focus on low-income settings and broaden the evaluation of pharmacist roles in public health promotion, including immunization, screening, and preventive care, using rigorous EE frameworks.