Clinical Impact of Pharmacist-Led Interventions on Medication Safety, Adherence, and Chronic Disease Management: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Pharmacist-led interventions have emerged as a cornerstone of modern healthcare systems, particularly in improving medication safety, enhancing patient adherence, and optimizing chronic disease management. This systematic review examines current evidence on the clinical outcomes associated with pharmacist-driven services across multiple care settings, including community pharmacies, primary care, hospitals, and ambulatory clinics. Literature from 2016 to 2025 was systematically searched across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using PRISMA guidelines. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental designs, cohort studies, and systematic reviews evaluating the impact of pharmacists on medication errors, adherence rates, therapeutic outcomes, and disease-specific indicators. The findings demonstrate consistent improvements in medication safety through pharmacist-led reconciliation, review, and counseling. Evidence further indicates significant enhancements in medication adherence associated with education, follow-up calls, and digital tools. Moreover, pharmacist interventions substantially contributed to better chronic disease control, especially in hypertension, diabetes, asthma, heart failure, and anticoagulation therapy. Across studies, pharmacist collaboration with interdisciplinary teams strengthened patient outcomes and reduced healthcare utilization. The review underscores the growing importance of pharmacists as clinical care providers and highlights the need for expanded scopes of practice, integration of digital tools, and supportive policies to further leverage their impact.