Drug therapy safety supported by interprofessional collaboration between ICU physicians and clinical pharmacists in critical care units in Germany : Results of asurvey

Abstract

Critically ill patients are particularly susceptible to adverse drug events. International studies show that pharmaceutical care has apositive impact on patient and drug therapy safety. Nationally, the integration of pharmacists into the multidisciplinary team and participation in ward rounds is required. The aim of this work is to assess the scope and extent of pharmaceutical care in intensive care units (ICU) in Germany. In aliterature and database search, 13relevant pharmaceutical activities were identified. Based on this, an online survey with 27questions on the implementation of pharmaceutical care in ICU was prepared by apanel of experts. The survey was sent to heads of German ICUs. Of the participants, 35.3% (59/167) have established regular pharmaceutical care. Drug information (89.7% [52/58]), pharmaceutical interventions with change of therapy (e.g., ward rounds; 67,2% [39/58]), regular evaluation of prescriptions (medication analysis; 65.5% [38/58]) as well as the monitoring of medication (e.g., side effects, effectiveness, costs; 63.8% [37/58]) were most frequently mentioned. The participants with pharmaceutical care (58/168) graded 7of13 but those without (104/168) only two activities as 'essential/indispensable'. Only afew ICU in Germany have already integrated ward pharmacists into the multidisciplinary team. Once apharmaceutical service has been established, agreater role/importance is assigned to several pharmaceutical activities.