Pharmacist Intervention in Reducing Drug-Related Hospital Readmissions among Patients with Heart Failure in Abuja, FCT

Background: Heart failure is associated with high rates of hospital readmission globally, often driven by medication non-adherence, drug interactions, and inadequate patient education. Pharmacist interventions at the point of discharge have shown promise in reducing readmissions. This study evaluated the impact of pharmacist discharge counselling on drug-related readmissions in heart failure patients at the National Hospital Abuja. Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-post study was conducted over four months. A control group (n = 65) received standard discharge instructions, while an intervention group (n = 65) received structured pharmacist-led medication counselling. The primary outcome was drug-related 30-day hospital readmission rate. Medication adherence was assessed using MMAS-4. Results: Thirty-day readmission rates were 27.7 percent in the control group and 12.3 percent in the intervention group (p = 0.02). Adherence scores were significantly higher in the intervention group at 30-day follow-up (p less than 0.01). Drug interactions were identified and resolved in 18 intervention patients. Conclusion: Pharmacist discharge counselling significantly reduces drug-related readmissions among heart failure patients in Abuja. Formalising discharge counselling as a standard care pathway in heart failure management is strongly recommended. Keywords: heart failure, discharge counselling, readmission, Abuja, medication adherence