Direct Intercession Approach by Clinical Pharmacist to Manage Medication Related Problems for Enhanced Patient Care

Abstract

<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Background:</strong> Medication related problems (MRPs) leads to patient harm and healthcare burden as develops frequently in general practice and hospital setup. To enhance therapeutic outcome; active intercessions by clinical pharmacist through meticulous prescription review to reduce prescription errors are strongly recommended. Studies in abroad shown that clinical pharmacist led medication review enhances therapeutic outcome through suitable therapeutic elucidation. In India, this practice restricted merely reporting but direct intercessions to modify the therapy rarely reported. Hence the present study is planned to provide appropriate and referred modification for identified MRPs as a direct patient care process with main axiom &lsquo;better patient care&rsquo;. <strong>Methods: </strong>This &lsquo;prospective open-label observational clinical cohort&rsquo; study conducted between August&rsquo;19 and January&rsquo;20 at Gandhi Hospital, Secunderabad, India. Collected cases simultaneously reviewed to identify MRP, thoroughly crossed matched with standard reference, justified and reported to doctor with suitable modification suggestions. <strong>Results: </strong>Result highlights; equal distribution of patient sex and vast distribution of age from neonates to elderly. Diagnosis has no co-relation on MRP development. Antibiotics, gastro-protective and anticoagulants are with maximum frequency to develop MRPs and entail strong vigilance. Furthermore drug toxicity, drug duplication, wrong dose and prescribing errors are most recurrent appeared problems. Subsequently appropriate modifications were suggested for every identified MRP and were closely observed till discharge for final outcome. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Certain MRPs are frequently emerging and needs tackling with proper management strategy. Our study further highlights about necessitate of clinical pharmacist intercession in optimizing drug therapy by providing proper medication information and same has been accepted and appreciated by various doctors. <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Key words: </strong>Clinical pharmacist intercession, Enhanced patient care, Medication related problems.