Heralding the Drug Related Problems by Using Hepler-Strand Classification in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Drug related problems (DRP) are generally referred as “an event (or) circumstance involving in drug treatment at all stages from prescribing to dispensing, which interferes actually or potentially with the patient achieving an outcome of pharmaceutical care. Various classifications were involved in drug related problems among which Hepler–Strand classification is widely followed. This study aimed to identify and report the drug related problems by using Hepler-strand classification and to educate the patients regarding safe use of medications. This is a Prospective observational study which was conducted over a period of 6 months in inpatient wards of General Medicine, Pediatrics and General Surgery at Sri Venkateswara Ramnarayan Ruia Government General hospital. A total of 150 patients were analysed during the study period. Among them76 (50.7%) were male and 74 (49.3%) were female patients. Among 150 prescriptions majority were found with DRP’s 89 (59.4%) followed by prescriptions without DRP’s was 61 (40.6%). Within 89 prescriptions a total of 277 DRP’s were observed. It includes 107 DRP’s in surgery; followed by 131 DRP’s in general medicine and 39 DRP’s in paediatrics. In a total of 277 DRP’s drug interactions was found to be in 264 cases, ADR’s in 4 cases, others in 9 cases. In those 264 drug interactions, drug-drug interactions (205), followed by drug-food interactions (59) were observed. The involvement of the clinical pharmacist may also improve the better usage of drugs in hospital and to decrease the economic status of patient.