Impact of Clinical Pharmacist Intervention on Decreasing Incidence of Preventable Adverse Drug Events after Hospital Discharge

Osama H Mohamed Ibrahim

doi:10.4172/2167-1052.1000111

Abstract

Drug Related Problems (DRP) including therapeutic failure and o¢dverse o¥rug o¦vents (ADEs) are vital patient safety issues [1]. They are particularly frequent after hospitalization [2], when multiple changes to patients’ medication regimens may be associated with poor patient education, no follow-up, and interruption of care [3-5]. These factors commonly result in inappropriate medication prescribing, discrepancies between prescribed and actual regimens, reduced adherence, and insufficient observation for adverse effects [6-9]. These problems may cause preventable ADEs and amplified health care utilization. An estimated 12% to 17% of general medicine patients experience ADEs after hospital discharge, more than half of them judged preventable or ameliorable (i.e. duration or severity could have been decreased) [10-12], up to 12% of ADEs result in Emergency Department (ED) visits and 5% in readmissions. A preventable ADE was defined as an undesired reaction to medication, which may have been prevented by appropriate drug selection or management [13].

Highlights

Drug Related Problems (DRP) including therapeutic failure and "dverse %rug &vents (ADEs) are vital patient safety issues [1]
The objective of this study is to identify drug-related problems after discharge and to determine the impact of clinical pharmacist intervention on decreasing the incidence of preventable ADEs
On the basis of the drug-related problems addressed by clinical pharmacists and the types of preventable ADEs seen among control patients, the lower rate of preventable ADEs in the intervention group may have been achieved due to resolution of medication discrepancies, improvement in medication appropriateness before hospital discharge, and improved access to medications after discharge

Summary

Introduction

Drug Related Problems (DRP) including therapeutic failure and "dverse %rug &vents (ADEs) are vital patient safety issues [1] They are frequent after hospitalization [2], when multiple changes to patients’ medication regimens may be associated with poor patient education, no follow-up, and interruption of care [3,4,5]. These factors commonly result in inappropriate medication prescribing, discrepancies between prescribed and actual regimens, reduced adherence, and insufficient observation for adverse effects [6,7,8,9]. A preventable ADE was defined as an undesired reaction to medication, which may have been prevented by appropriate drug selection or management [13]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion