Brief pharmacist-led intervention using a structured questionnaire to improve attitudes toward medication adherence in patients on antipsychotics: a single-site before–after study

BACKGROUND: Medication adherence among patients with psychiatric disorders is a significant challenge that often leads to poor clinical outcomes. Although pharmacist-led interventions have demonstrated the potential to improve medication adherence, evidence remains limited, particularly in patients treated with antipsychotics. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a brief pharmacist-led intervention in enhancing medication adherence among outpatients receiving antipsychotic therapy. METHODS: This exploratory, prospective, single-arm study was conducted at a community pharmacy in Japan. Fifty outpatients prescribed antipsychotic medications participated in the study. A brief pharmacist-led intervention was delivered focusing on identifying and addressing barriers to adherence. The primary outcomes were changes in Drug Attitude Inventory-10 (DAI-10) scores and the proportion of participants with unused medications. RESULTS: Participants taking preexisting medications exhibited a significant improvement in DAI-10 scores (mean increase, + 2.05 points; from 5.81 ± 4.00 to 7.86 ± 2.90, p = 0.00619). The proportion of participants who reported non-adherence to medication regimens decreased significantly from 42% to 24% (p= 0.0159). CONCLUSIONS: The brief pharmacist-led intervention was effective in improving attitudes toward medication and behavioral adherence among patients receiving antipsychotic treatment in our study group. These findings underscore the importance of active pharmacist engagement for supporting medication adherence.