Effectiveness of pharmacist counseling on medication adherence and blood pressure in patients with hypertension at a private clinic in Bali, Indonesia

Abstract

Hypertension can be influenced by several factors, including age, genetics, lifestyle, and sex. Poor medication adherence and uncontrolled blood pressure are associated with increased morbidity and mortality; therefore, pharmacist counseling may play an important role in improving treatment outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of pharmacist counseling on medication adherence and blood pressure in patients with hypertension at a private clinic in Bali, Indonesia. A quasi-experimental study with a nonequivalent pretest-posttest control group design was conducted. A total of 71 respondents participated in the study, including 28 in the control group and 43 in the intervention group, using a total sampling method. Medical record data were collected retrospectively over a 6-month period (June–November 2025) and prospectively for 5 months after the intervention (January–May 2026) to assess medication adherence using the Medication Possession Ratio (MPR) and to evaluate blood pressure. The chi-square test was used to analyze medication adherence, while the Mann–Whitney, Wilcoxon, and ANCOVA tests were used to analyze blood pressure. A significant difference in medication adherence was observed after pharmacist counseling (p = 0.006). No significant differences were observed in systolic or diastolic blood pressure after pharmacist counseling, with p = 0.318 and p = 0.623, respectively. In conclusion, pharmacist counseling was effective in improving medication adherence but did not have a statistically significant effect on blood pressure.