Pharmacists’ Ability to Influence Outcomes of Hypertension Therapy Steven R. Erickson, Pharm.D., Richard Slaughter, M.S., and Henry Halapy, Pharm.D We measured the impact of pharmaceutical care on outcomes of antihypertensive therapy for patients with elevated baseline blood pressures who were attending an urban university-affiliated internal medicine clinic. The intervention group received education about hypertension, drug and nondrug management, and assistance to enhance compliance. The pharmacist made recommendations to physicians regarding pharmacotherapy. The control group received no such education, and interventions relating to pharmacotherapy were only physician initiated. Over an average follow-up of 5 months, significant decreases in mean blood pressures were noted for the intervention group from baseline to final assessment (156m44.5, mm Hg systolic, p=O.OOl; 91.6B6.9 mm Hg diastolic, p=O.Ol), with insignificant changes in mean pressures in the control group (153.7/151.0 mm Hg systolic, p=0.48; 90.4/87.8 mm Hg diastolic, p=0.29). Comparing the groups, the change in diastolic pressures was insignificant (4.7 vs 2.6 mm Hg intervention vs control, p=0.49), but the change in systolic pressure was more impressive (12.0 vs 2.7 mm Hg, respectively, p=0.05). There was no significant difference in SF-36 Health Survey scores between groups. A significant decrease (p=0.03) in the SF-36 physical functioning domain was seen in the intervention group, but no other significant changes in health-related quality of life scores. Pharmaceutical care contributed to improved blood pressure control in these patients. (Pharmacotherapy 1997;17(1):140-1 47) Outpatient pharmacy practice is becoming more patient oriented. The results of many studies support the concept that direct patient involvement by ambulatory care pharmacists can improve disease control, is cost-effective, and is accepted by physicians and other health care providers. We evaluated the influence of pharmaceutical care on the outcomes of patients being treated for From the Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan (all authors). Supported by a grant from the Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, Michigan. Presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, Washington, D.C., August 6-9, 1995. Address reprint requests to Steven R. Erickson, Pharm.D., College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1065. hypertension in a general medicine outpatient clinic. Specifically, we attempted to document and evaluate the effect of such care on blood pressure control as well as changes in generic and hypertension-specific health-related quality of life questionnaire scores of these patients. Methods This controlled study used a concurrent cohort design (control vs intervention group) in which each patient was followed for an average of zy 5 months after enrollment. Patients were recruited from the internal medicine clinic of a university health center. The proposal and consent form were approved by the university’s investigational review board and consent was obtained from all patients. The clinic was operational 4 daydweek (not on