Identification of drug-related problems: a prospective study in two general hospitals
Identification of drug-related problems: a prospective study in two general hospitals
Date
2012-11-04
Authors
Jarab, Anan
Mukattash, Tareq
Hallak, Hussein
Adas, Heba
Samaro, Ekhlas
Khdour, Maher
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Bentham Science Publishers
Abstract
Drug-related problems (DRPs) can reduce the potential clinical benefits of treatment with medicines and waste
valuable resources. No previous studies were published to examine the nature and frequency of drug related problems
among hospitalized patients in Palestinian hospitals. Methodology: Prospective observational study was conducted to
report and record the natural and frequency of drug related problems in two general hospitals. Results: The study included
212 patients, 54.4 % female, with a mean age 62.2 (±10.6 SD). 88% of the patients were reported with one or more DRPs,
with an average of 1.9 DRPs per patient were found. The most prevalent DRP was incorrect dosing regimen which was
represented by (22.2%), followed by drug-drug interaction (19.4%), drugs need laboratory tests (15.2%). Ceftriaxone,
warfarin, enoxapirin and dogixin were the drugs causing most frequent DRPs. The drug groups causing most DRPs were
anti-infective agents, anti-thrombotic agents and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents. Once discovered, the majority of
DRPs (71.6%) were accepted by the physicians and solved immediately, while 11.5 % of pharmacist advice was not
approved. Multiple regression analysis indicated that the number of medications (RR 1.99; 95% CI 1.31-3.76) and the
number of medical conditions (RR 1.81; 95% CI 1.11-3.13) independently predicted the number of DRPs. Conclusion:
DRPs in general hospitals are frequent, serious and predictable. Most of the problems identified as DRPs by the
pharmacists were accepted by the physicians and solved. Pharmacists in the hospital setting are well suited to identify and
resolve DRPs.
Description
Keywords
DRPs, Pharmacist intervention, hospital setting, adverse drug reaction, Palestine