International Journal of Human and Health Sciences. Supplementary Issue: 2021 
 

S24 
 

Home Medication Review by Hospital Tuanku Fauziah: Carers’ 

Perspectives 

 

Wei Chern Ang1,2, Jurisma Che Lah2, Nursyafiqah Zulkepli2, Nursyamimi 

Sukri2, Amalina Rosedi2 
1Clinical Research Centre, Hospital Tuanku Fauziah, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Perlis; 
2Department of Pharmacy, Hospital Tuanku Fauziah, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Perlis 
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.31344/ijhhs.v5i0.315 

 

Introduction: Home Medications Review (HMR) is a continuation of patient care from health 

facilities to their home to assess patients’ pharmacotherapy by a multidisciplinary team. 

Bedridden patients were the main group who received this service. To improve the provision of 

HMR, we need to understand carers’ viewpoints of the current service. 

 

Objectives: To explore the carers’ perspectives of HMR conducted by the medical outreach 

team (MOT) of Hospital Tuanku Fauziah. 

 

Methods: This is a qualitative study conducted among carers who were involved in the HMR 

programme for more than six months. Subjects were recruited by purposive sampling from 

August 2019 to December 2019. In-depth interviews were audio-recorded at patients’ homes 

until data saturation and transcribed verbatim. The transcripts then underwent thematic data 

analysis. 

 

Results: Nine carers were interviewed. All participants had a limited understanding of HMR 

since they were not properly counselled prior to admission to the programme. The convenience 

of not having to go to the hospital was perceived as the major benefit of the programme. 

Healthcare providers were welcomed during each visit. Recognising allied health professionals 

in the MOT possesses a problem for some carers. There was a concern about having to collect 

newly add-on medications from the hospital. Some participants suggested increasing the 

frequency of visits and hope for more financial aids. 

 

Conclusion: This study proved that carers’ understanding of HMR was generally poor. All 

carers were satisfied with the current HMR programme provided by the MOT. However, several 

aspects of our HMR need to be improved. Despite the COVID-19 situation that puts HMR on-

hold and telemedicine have been adapted, HMR is here to stay in the post-COVID-19 era. This 

is supported by studies conducted in the pre-COVID-19 era that HMR is more beneficial than 

telemedicine due to the personal touch of face-to-face encounters. 

 

Keywords: home care services, allied health personnel, caregivers, qualitative research, 

COVID-19 

 

 

http://dx.doi.org/10.31344/ijhhs.v5i0.315