Mean Number Of Drug-related Problems Research Articles

Impact of pharmacist-led interventions in identifying and resolving drug related problems and potentially inappropriate prescriptions among rural patients: A pilot study

BackgroundDrug-related problems are a major problem that can lead to increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs due to heightened medical visits, hospital readmissions, or emergency room visits. In rural areas, new tools for clinical pharmacy services, such as medication review, could decrease this problem. ObjectiveTo analyze the prevalence of clinically relevant drug-related problems (DRPs) and potentially inappropriate prescriptions (PIPs) identified by new medication review software (Revisem®) in rural pharmacies. The effectiveness of resolving DRPs and PIPs in patients who received pharmacist-led intervention (PLI) was also evaluated. MethodsA prospective, multicenter, observational pilot study in 17 rural pharmacies from the Valencian region (Spain) was conducted over a period of 6 months. Revisem®, a type 1 medication review software, was developed and implemented to detect and resolve drug-related issues (DRPs and PIPs). The clinical history of 135 polymedicated patients was recorded, as well as the PLI conducted after the identification of incidences. The mean number of DRPs and PIPs before and after PLI were analyzed and compared. FindingsA total of 1545 drug-related issues were detected in 135 patients (86 women). 1166 were DRPs and 379 were PIPs. Interactions were the most common incidence (43.7 %), with furosemide and omeprazole being the drugs with the highest number of significant interactions. In the before-after intervention study, the mean number of incidents detected per patient by Revisem® decreased from 9.7 ± 6.9 to 8.8 ± 6.9 (p < 0.05) after PLI. Written reports were the most frequent means of communication between pharmacists and physicians (45.0 %). The acceptance rate of pharmacists' suggestions was 45.2 %. ConclusionThe impact of pharmacist-led interventions in rural pharmacies allowed the detection of a high number of drug-related issues and significantly reduced the number of DRPs and PIPs, preventing negative health outcomes.

Evaluation of a novel clinical pharmacy tool in identifying and categorising drug-related problems in hospitalised patients: The MA2VER2ICK Tool Study

Abstract Introduction Literature searching has revealed a lack of high-quality research outlining the use of tools or checklists in hospitalised patients. Additionally, few tools identified relate directly to clinical pharmacy practice. The tools identified focus on specific disciplines (e.g. critical care) or specific tasks (e.g. handover). The MA2VER2ICK Tool is a novel clinical pharmacy tool which has recently undergone review and adaptation.[1] The tool is unique as it is comprehensive and applicable to all hospitalised patients, regardless of clinical discipline. The intended purpose of the tool is to assist clinical pharmacists in comprehensive pharmaceutical care planning. Aim Demonstrate the utility of the MA2VER2ICK tool in pharmaceutical care planning, by outlining the type and frequency of drug-related problems occurring in hospitalised patients. Methods A prospective, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted in a 560-bed acute university teaching hospital. Clinical pharmacists adopted the tool in their daily practice, in a mixed medical-surgical inpatient population, over four weeks. All drug-related problems identified were recorded and assigned to the applicable category within the tool, by the clinical pharmacist. Additionally, all drug-related problems were retrospectively assigned to applicable categories of the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe Classification for Drug Related Problems Version 9.1,[2] for comparison, by two independent researchers. Results All identified drug-related problems identified were successfully categorised using the MA2VER2ICK Tool. In total, 753 drug-related problems were identified in 180 patients over four weeks, with 233 patient-pharmacist encounters occurring. The mean age of patients was 68.9±16 years, while 51.7% (93/180) were female and 48.3% (87/180) were male. The mean number of drug-related problems identified per patient was 4.2±3.6. The highest number of drug-related problems experienced by an individual was 20, while 17 patients experienced no drug-related problem. The majority of drug-related problems identified using the tool related to medication reconciliation (52.7%; 397/753), followed by prescription endorsement and administration (17.3%; 130/753) and pharmacotherapy optimisation (9.3%; 70/753). In comparison with the MA2VER2ICK Tool, the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe classification system has a much larger range of categories for assigning drug-related problems. Despite this, a proportion of identified drug-related problems 1.6% (12/753) could not be categorised using this tool, while there were also several categories within the tool 43.2% (19/44) whereby no drug-related problems were assigned. Conclusion This study demonstrates that the MA2VER2ICK Tool is a robust clinical pharmacy tool, that is effective and practical in assisting clinical pharmacists with the identification of drug-related problems and thus is a useful guide to facilitate pharmaceutical care planning at the patient’s bedside. This is in comparison with the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe classification system, which has less utility as a clinical pharmacy tool, but is better placed as a research instrument. Despite demonstrating the usefulness of the MA2VER2ICK Tool in identifying drug-related problems, the clinical significance of those identified was not assessed during this study. However, data collection occurred in real time, facilitating the identification of actual and potential problems, thus reducing the likelihood of underestimating the incidence rate.

An observational study to determine the category and causes of the drug-related problems among geriatric inpatients

Background: Geriatric patients are at a higher risk of drug-related problems (DRPs) because of age-related chronic diseases leading to the use of numerous therapeutic regimens, and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes. DRPs are associated with reduced quality of life, increased hospital admissions, prolonged hospital stays, and increased health-care costs. Aims and Objectives: This study aimed at identifying the category and causes of DRPs so that better strategies can be framed, thereby improving the quality of health care. Materials and Methods: The observational study was conducted among geriatric inpatients in a tertiary care hospital. The DRPs were identified using national and international standard guidelines. The Pharmaceutical Care Network of Europe (PCNE) classification version 9.01 was used to determine the category and causes of DRPs in the patients. Results: Seventy patients were enrolled in the study. A total of 102 DRPs were detected among these patients. The mean number of DRPs per patient was 1.45. According to the PCNE classification, 36 DRPs were related to treatment effectiveness, 27 were related to treatment safety, 25 were unnecessary drug treatments and 14 were related to cost effectiveness of the treatment. One hundred and fifty-one causes of DRPs were identified. The most commonly involved class of drugs in DRPs was antimicrobials. Conclusion: The number of DRPs noted in the present study was lower than those in the other studies. Majority of DRPs were treatment effectiveness-associated and caused due to errors in drug selection and use.

Evaluation of the Prevalence and Risk Factors of Drug-Related Problems in Hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Drug-related problems (DRPs) potentially interfere with the desired treatment goals which may lead to increased healthcare costs, morbidity, and mortality. Despite the negative consequences of DRPs, there is a lack of comprehensive research on their prevalence and risk factors, particularly in chronic diseases such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). This study aims to evaluate the prevalence and contributing factors of DRPs among hypertension, type 2 DM, and hypertension with type 2 DM in the outpatient general medicine department. Methodology A hospital-based, prospective, observational study was conducted over three months. DRPs were classified using the Helper-Strand classification. The potential risk factors contributing to DRPs were assessed using binary and multinomial logistic regression methods. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Among the 236 study participants, DRPs were more prevalent in males, and the mean age of the participants was 51.73 ± 9.47 years. DRPs were found in 76% of the study participants, and the mean number of DRPs per patient was 1.16 ± 0.45. Among the identified DRPs, suboptimal therapeutic goals (33%) were the most frequently observed, followed by ineffective drugs (32%), medication non-adherence (23%), and drug-drug interaction (5%). Therapeutic duplication and overdose were less commonly encountered as DRPs. The presence of comorbidity (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 5.77), and smoking (AOR = 21.07) were found to be significant risk factors (p < 0.05) contributing to DRPs. Conclusions DRPs are more prevalent in hypertension, type 2 DM, and hypertension with type 2 DM. Age range (40-60 years), comorbidity, and smoking were found to be associated with a higher incidence of DRPs. The implementation of a multidisciplinary team approach involving clinical pharmacists and physicians can effectively identify the prevalence and determine the associated risk factors of DRPs and subsequently may help employ targeted interventions to mitigate the development of DRPs.

Outcomes of Telepharmacy on Asthma Control at Ratchaburi Hospital

Objective: This study aimed to assess clinical, humanistic and economic outcomes of telepharmacy in asthma patients. Material and Methods: A quasi-experimental research design, with one-group pretest-posttest, was conducted to study telepharmacy. This real-time pharmaceutical care using communication technology was conducted in 29 asthma patients, over 12 weeks. Clinical outcomes were evaluated; including, asthma control, drug-related problems, adherence to use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), ICS-side effects, emergency room visits and hospitalizations due to acute exacerbation. Patient satisfaction was used to assess humanistic outcomes, and cost-saving was used to assess economic outcomes. Results: Clinical outcomes showed statistically significant improvement in the number of well-controlled patients; increasing from 34.48% to 89.66% (p-value&lt;0.01). ICS adherence improved from the mean percentage of number of times patients forgot to use ICS; which decreased from 5.86±18.67 to 0.21±0.74 (p-value&lt;0.01). The mean number of drug-related problems decreased from 1.45±0.91 to 0.21±0.41 (p-value&lt;0.01), and the mean number of ICS-side effects decreased from 0.66±0.72 to 0.14±0.44 (p-value&lt;0.01). A total of 51.72 % of patients also required additional advice on inhaler techniques by a pharmacist. The mean number of emergency room visits and hospitalizations, due to acute exacerbation, decreased to zero by the end of the study. Humanistic outcomes revealed that patient satisfaction was at the ‘very satisfactory’ level (4.82±0.27 out of 5.00), and economic outcomes found that patients could save 49.99±34.90% compared to usual care. Conclusion: This study shows that patients receiving telepharmacy have better outcomes in ICS adherence and asthma control, can prevent future risks (acute exacerbation, ICS-side effects), save costs and were very satisfied with telepharmacy overall.

Drug-related problems among hospitalized hypertensive and heart failure patients and physician acceptance of pharmacists' interventions at a teaching hospital in Ghana.

BackgroundHypertensive and heart failure patients frequently require multiple drug therapy which may be associated with drug‐related problems (DRPs).AimTo determine the frequency, types, and predictors of DRPs, and acceptance of pharmacists' interventions among hospitalized hypertensive and heart failure patients.MethodIt was a prospective cross‐sectional study at the internal medicine department wards of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) between January and June 2019 using a validated form (the pharmaceutical care form used by clinical pharmacists at the medical department). DRPs were classified based on the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe (PCNE) Classification scheme for DRPs V8.02. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis.ResultsA total of 247 DRPs were identified in 134 patients. The mean number of DRPs was 1.84 (SD: 1.039) per patient. Most DRPs occurred during the prescribing process (40.5%; n(DRPs) = 100), and the highest prescribing problem was untreated indication (11.7%; n = 29). Other frequent DRPs were medication counseling need (25.1%; n = 62), administration errors 10.1%(n = 25), drug interaction (10.5%; n = 26), and “no” or inappropriate monitoring (10.5%; n = 26). The number of drugs received significantly predicted the number of DRPs (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 9.85; 95% CI: 2.04–47.50; p < 0.001). Clinical variables were significant predictors of number of DRPs (diabetic status: AOR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.18–0.98, p < 0.05; statin use: AOR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.14–0.81, p < 0.05; antiplatelet use: AOR: 5.95, 95% CI: 2.03–17.48, p < 0.01). Average acceptance of interventions by physicians was 71.6% (SD: 11.7). Most (70.6%; n = 48) accepted interventions were implemented by physicians (resolved).ConclusionDRPs frequently occur, with most problems identified in the prescribing process. Medication counseling was frequently needed. Patients' number of drugs and clinical factors predicted the occurrence of DRPs. Physicians accepted and implemented most interventions. Our findings suggest that clinical pharmacists have an important role in cardiovascular patient care, but this study should be replicated in other hospitals in Ghana to corroborate these findings.

The effects of a pharmacist-led medication review in a nursing home: A randomized controlled trial.

Background:In this study, an intensive review of pharmaceutical care for elderly patients was conducted in a Veterans Administration nursing home in Taiwan and its effects were evaluated.Methods:One hundred participants were enrolled in this randomized controlled study with even distribution. The inclusion criteria were age 65 years or older, prescriptions for at least 5 oral medicines daily, and ≥2 chronic diseases, for the period May 2013 to October 2014. Subjects were excluded if they had previously been included in an intensive medication review conducted by a pharmacist. The primary outcomes were numbers of drugs prescribed, potential inappropriate medications, and numbers of drug-related problems. The secondary outcomes were self-reported medical usages, measurements of quality of life, results of a satisfaction survey, and health status.Results:A total of 80 cases (42 in the intervention group with medication reconciliation and 38 in the control group without medication reconciliation) completed the study. Baseline characteristics were not statistically different between the 2 groups. The overall prevalence of potential inappropriate medication was 74.3%. There were no differences between the 2 groups, with the exception of “medical problems,” which showed a significantly higher prevalence in the intervention group (P < .05). The intervention group reported greater satisfaction regarding pharmacist visits and medication compliance (P < .01). The mean number of drug-related problems was significantly lower after the intervention (P < .01).Conclusion:In this study, the intensive review of the elderly patients’ medications revealed that the only significant effect of pharmaceutical care was on “all outcomes.” A possible reason for this is the rather advanced ages of some patients who needed a considerable number of medications to treat several chronic diseases. Another reason may be the small sample size. However, participants who received the pharmacist intervention did have higher satisfaction with medication reconciliation and fewer drug-related problems.

Effects of home medication review on drug-related problems and health-related quality of life among community-dwelling older adults in China

BackgroundThere is a lack of research on the nature of drug-related problems (DRPs) in older adult communities in China and the impact of home medication review on DRP reduction and health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) improvement. ObjectivesTo identify and categorize DRPs in older adults in China and to assess the impact of home medication review. MethodsThe prospective study was conducted in 2 community health service centers in Shanghai, China from December 2018 to December 2019. Eligible patients received a home medication review by a clinical pharmacist to assess for DRPs and adherence, propose pharmaceutical interventions, and measure outcomes of HRQoL. All enrolled patients were followed up for 3 months. ResultsMedication use in 412 patients was analyzed. A total of 362 DRPs were identified, an average of 0.88 per patient. Treatment effectiveness was the primary DRP type (249; 68.8%). The most common causes of DRPs were patient-related (35.1%) and drug selection (31.0%). Pharmacists made 733 interventions, an average of 2 per DRP. A total of 82.1% of these interventions were accepted. At a 3-month follow-up, home medication review led to a statistically significant reduction in the mean number of DRPs (0.4 vs. 0.88, P < 0.001) and an increase in medication adherence (1.42 vs. 0.85, P < 0.001). Both HRQoL indicators also improved, EuroQol 5 Dimension scale (0.75 vs. 0.78, P < 0.001) and EuroQol–visual analog scale (70 vs. 77.65, P < 0.001). ConclusionHome medication review is a practical means to optimize drug therapy and improve patients’ HRQoL in community settings.

Variation between nursing homes in drug use and in drug-related problems

BackgroundResidents at nursing homes (NHs) are at particular risk for drug related harm. Regular medication reviews using explicit criteria for pharmacological inappropriateness and classification of drug related problems (DRPs) have recently been introduced as measures to improve the quality of medication use and for making the treatment more uniform across different institutions. Knowledge about variation in DRPs between NHs is scarce. To explore if increased attention towards more appropriate drug treatment in NHs have led to more uniform treatment, we have analyzed variations between different nursing homes’ drug use and DRPs.MethodsCross-sectional medication review study including 2465 long-term care residents at 41 NHs in Oslo, Norway. Regular drug use was retrieved from the patients’ medical records. DRPs were identified by using STOPP/START and NORGEP criteria and a drug-drug interactions database. NHs were grouped in quartiles based on average levels of drug use. The upper and lower quartiles were compared using independent samples t-test and associations between drug use and DRPs were tested by logistic regression.ResultsPatients’ mean age was 85.9 years, 74.2% were women.Mean numbers of regular drugs per patient was 6.8 and varied between NHs from 4.8 to 9.3.The proportion of patients within each NH using psychotropic and analgesic drugs varied largely: antipsychotics from three to 50%, benzodiazepines from 24 to 99%, antidepressants from nine to 75%, anti-dementia drugs from no use to 42%, opioids from no use to 65% and paracetamol from 16 to 74%.Mean DRPs per patient was 2.0 and varied between NHs from 0.5 to 3.4.The quartiles of NHs with highest and lowest mean drugs per patient (7.7 vs. 5.7, p < 0.001) had comparable mean number of DRPs per patient (2.2 vs. 1.8, p = 0.2). Using more drugs and the use of opioids, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines and antidepressants were associated with more DRPs.ConclusionsThe use of psychotropic and analgesic drugs was high and varied substantially between different NHs. Even if the use of more drugs, opioids and psychotropic drugs was associated with DRPs, no difference was found in DRPs between the NHs with highest vs. lowest drug use.

Drug-related problems associated with community-dwelling older persons living alone in Singapore

Background Older persons living alone have been associated with poorer health outcomes and higher mortality rate. However, little isknown about the drug related problems (DRPs) faced by this population group in Singapore. Objectives This study aims to elucidate the prevalence and type of DRPs associated with older persons living alone. Setting ElevenSenior Activity Centers in Singapore. Method Individuals aged above 55years, taking at least one oral chronic medication and living in the housing estate served by the Senior Activity Centers were recruited to participate in an individual interviewer-administered cross-sectional survey. Those who were unable to comprehend the survey or communicate their responses fully were excluded. DRPs were identified by the interviewers and reported using a modified DOCUMENT system. Main outcome measure The main outcome measure was the difference in prevalence and types of DRPs between survey participants with different living arrangements. Results Among 360 respondents, 152 (42.2%) were older persons living alone. A higher prevalence (61.2% vs. 47.6%, adjusted OR = 1.86 [1.12-3.10], p = 0.016) and mean number of DRPs (1.23 ± 1.4 vs. 0.95 ± 1.33, p = 0.018) were observed among older persons living alone in comparison with those who were not living alone. Specifically, those living alone were more likely to have DRP related to the category 'Taking too little' (adjusted OR = 2.32 [1.28-4.20], p = 0.006) and which involved the use of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (adjusted OR = 2.78 [1.16-6.69], p = 0.022). Conclusion Besides having a significantly higher prevalence of DRP, older persons living alone were more likely to be non-adherent to their medications, particularly statins. Targeted interventions to reduce these DRPs and ensure appropriate management of chronic conditions should be derived, especially for those who lack the ability to help themselves.

Prevention of potentially inappropriate medication in internal medicine patients: A prospective study using the electronic application PIM-Check.

Potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) is a risk factor for drug-related problems (DRPs) and an important inpatient safety issue. PIM-Check is a screening tool designed to detect PIM in internal medicine patients. This study aimed to determine whether PIM-Check could help to identify and reduce DRPs. Prospective interventional study conducted on patients admitted to internal medicine wards in a university hospital between 1 September 2015 and 30 October 2015. Adult patients were included if they were hospitalized for more than 48hours. Patients received either usual care (period 1=control) or usual care plus medication screening by the wards' chief residents using PIM-Check (period 2=intervention). An expert panel, composed of a clinical pharmacist, a clinical pharmacologist and two attending physicians in internal medicine, blinded to patient groups, identified DRPs. A total of 297 patients were included (intervention: 109). The groups' demographic parameters were similar. The expert panel identified 909 DRPs (598: control; 311: intervention). The mean number of DRPs per patient was similar in the control (3.2; 95% CI: 2.9-3.5) and intervention groups (2.9; 95% CI: 2.4-3.3) (P=.12). PIM-Check displayed 33.4% of the 311 DRPs identified in the intervention group. In this study, PIM-Check had limited value, as the average number of DRPs per person was similar in both groups. Although one-third of DRPs counted in intervention group had been identified by PIM-Check, this did not lead to a reduction in DRPs. This lack of impact of PIM-Check on drug prescription may be explained by the number of alerts displayed by the application and hospital physicians' reluctance to modify the treatments for chronic conditions previously prescribed by general practitioners.

Prevalence and Management of Drug-Related Problems in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients by Severity Level: A Subanalysis of a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial in Community Pharmacies.

Drug-related problems (DRPs) are prevalent among chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. However, little is known about their severity and management by community pharmacists. To (a) describe the prevalence of DRPs by severity level in CKD patients and (b) assess the effect of a training-and-communication network program in nephrology (ProFiL) on these DRPs. This is a secondary analysis of a cluster randomized controlled trial evaluating the effect of the ProFiL-program. In 6 CKD clinics, patients at CKD stage 3 or 4 and their community pharmacists were recruited and assigned to the ProFiL group or a usual care (UC) group. Using validated criteria, 2 pharmacists identified DRPs and assessed their severity at baseline and after 12 months. The mean annual change in the number of DRPs per patient by severity level was assessed using a 2-level multivariable linear mixed-effects model. A total of 494 pharmacists and 442 patients participated. At baseline, the prevalence (mean number of DRPs per patient [SD]) of mild DRPs (e.g., requiring dosage adjustment) and moderate DRPs (e.g., drug adherence requiring a monitoring plan) were 0.55 (0.98) and 1.04 (1.51), respectively. After 12 months, an unadjusted incremental annual reduction of 0.34 moderate DRPs (95% CI = -0.66 to -0.01) was observed in the ProFiL group compared with the UC group. After adjustment, no between-group differences were observed. Among patients followed in CKD clinics, most DRPs have a moderate severity requiring specific monitoring by pharmacists. The benefit of continuing education programs, such as ProFiL, to reduce moderate DRPs remains to be determined. This study was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (grant number: MOP-230207). Part of the study was also funded by Pfizer Canada, Leo Pharma, and Amgen. The authors declare that they have no relevant financial interests. Study concept and design were contributed by Quintana-Bárcena, Lord, and Lalonde. Quintana-Bárcena, Lord, and Lizotte were responsible for the data analysis, and Quintana-Bárcena and Berbiche performed the statistical analysis. The manuscript was written by Quintana-Bárcena and Lalonde and revised by Quintana-Bárcena and Lalonde, along with the other authors.

Drug-related problems identified during medication review before and after the introduction of a clinical decision support system.

To facilitate the identification of drug-related problems (DRPs) during medication review, several tools have been developed. Explicit criteria, like Beers criteria or STOPP (Screening Tool of Older Peoples' Prescriptions) and START (Screening Tool to Alert doctors to Right Treatment) criteria, can easily be integrated into a clinical decision support system (CDSS). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of adding a CDSS to medication review software on identifying and solving DRPs in daily pharmacy practice. Pre- to post-analysis of clinical medication reviews (CMRs) performed by 121 pharmacies in 2012 and 2013, before and after the introduction of CDSS into medication review software. Mean number of DRPs per patient, type of DRPs and their resolution rates were compared in the pharmacies pre- and post-CDSS using paired t tests. In total, 9151 DRPs were identified in 3100 patients pre-CDSS and 15268 DRPs were identified in 4303 patients post-CDSS. The mean number of identified DRPs per patient (aggregated per pharmacy) was higher after the introduction of CDSS (3.2 vs 3.6 P<.01). The resolution rate was lower post-CDSS (50% vs 44%; P<.01), which overall resulted in 1.6 resolved DRPs per patient in both groups (P=.93). After the introduction of CDSS, 41% of DRPs were detected by the CDSS. The resolution rate of DRPs generated by CDSS was lower than of DRPs identified without the help of CDSS (29% vs 55%; P<.01). The two most prevalent DRP types were "Overtreatment" and "Suboptimal therapy" in both groups. The prevalence of "Overtreatment" was equal in both groups (mean DRPs per patient: 0.84 vs 0.77; P=.22), and "Suboptimal therapy" was more frequently identified post-CDSS (mean DRPs per patient: 0.54 vs 1.1; P<.01). The introduction of CDSS to medication review software generated additional DRPs with a lower resolution rate. Structural assessment including a patient interview elicited the most relevant DRPs. Further development of CDSS with more specific alerts is needed to be clinical relevant.

Community Pharmacist Training-and-Communication Network and Drug-Related Problems in Patients With CKD: A Multicenter, Cluster-Randomized, Controlled Trial

Appropriate training for community pharmacists may improve the quality of medication use. Few studies have reported the impact of such programs on medication management for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Multicenter, cluster-randomized, controlled trial. Patients with CKD stage 3a, 3b, or 4 from 6 CKD clinics (Quebec, Canada) and their community pharmacies. Each cluster (a pharmacy and its patients) was randomly assigned to either ProFiL, a training-and-communication network program, or the control group. ProFiL pharmacists completed a 90-minute interactive web-based training program on use of medications in CKD and received a clinical guide, patients' clinical summaries, and facilitated access to the CKD clinic. Drug-related problems (primary outcome), pharmacists' knowledge and clinical skills, and patients' clinical attributes (eg, blood pressure and glycated hemoglobin concentration). Drug-related problems were evaluated the year before and after the recruitment of patients using a validated set of significant drug-related problems, the Pharmacotherapy Assessment in Chronic Renal Disease (PAIR) criteria. Pharmacists' questionnaires were completed at baseline and after 1 year. Clinical attributes were documented at baseline and after 1 year using available information in medical charts. 207 community pharmacies, 494 pharmacists, and 442 patients with CKD participated. After 1 year, the mean number of drug-related problems per patient decreased from 2.16 to 1.60 and from 1.70 to 1.62 in the ProFiL and control groups, respectively. The difference in reduction of drug-related problems per patient between the ProFiL and control groups was-0.32 (95% CI,-0.63 to-0.01). Improvements in knowledge (difference, 4.5%; 95% CI, 1.6%-7.4%) and clinical competencies (difference, 7.4%; 95% CI, 3.5%-11.3%) were observed among ProFiL pharmacists. No significant differences in clinical attributes were observed across the groups. High proportion of missing data on knowledge and clinical skills questionnaire (34.6%) and clinical attributes (11.1%). Providing community pharmacists with essential clinical data, appropriate training, and support from hospital pharmacists with expertise in nephrology increases pharmacists' knowledge and reduces drug-related problems in patients with CKD who are followed up in clinics incorporating a multidisciplinary health care team.

Effectiveness of a drug dosing service provided by community pharmacists in polymedicated elderly patients with renal impairment — a comparative study

BackgroundDrug dosing errors are common in renal-impaired patients. Appropriate dosing adjustment and drug selection is important to ensure patients’ safety and to avoid adverse drug effects and poor outcomes. There are few studies on this issue in community pharmacies. The aims of this study were, firstly, to determine the prevalence of dosing inadequacy as a consequence of renal impairment in patients over 65 taking 3 or more drug products who were being attended in community pharmacies and, secondly, to evaluate the effectiveness of the community pharmacist’s intervention in improving dosing inadequacy in these patients when compared with usual care.MethodsThe study was carried out in 40 Spanish community pharmacies. The study had two phases: the first, with an observational, multicentre, cross sectional design, served to determine the dosing inadequacy, the drug-related problems per patient and to obtain the control group. The second phase, with a controlled study with historical control group, was the intervention phase. When dosing adjustments were needed, the pharmacists made recommendations to the physicians. A comparison was made between the control and the intervention group regarding the prevalence of drug dosing inadequacy and the mean number of drug-related problems per patient.ResultsThe mean of the prevalence of drug dosing inadequacy was 17.5% [95% CI 14.6-21.5] in phase 1 and 15.5% [95% CI 14.5-16.6] in phase 2. The mean number of drug-related problems per patient was 0.7 [95% CI 0.5-0.8] in phase 1 and 0.50 [95% CI 0.4-0.6] in phase 2. The difference in the prevalence of dosing inadequacy between the control and intervention group before the pharmacists’ intervention was 0.73% [95% CI (−6.0) - 7.5] and after the pharmacists’ intervention it was 13.5% [95% CI 8.0 - 19.5] (p < 0.001) while the difference in the mean of drug-related problems per patient before the pharmacists’ intervention was 0.05 [95% CI( -0.2) - 0.3] and following the intervention it was 0.5 [95% CI 0.3 - 0.7] (p < 0.001).ConclusionA drug dosing adjustment service for elderly patients with renal impairment in community pharmacies can increase the proportion of adequate drug dosing, and improve the drug-related problems per patient. Collaborative practice with physicians can improve these results.

Development and Validation of the PAIR (Pharmacotherapy Assessment in Chronic Renal Disease) Criteria to Assess Medication Safety and Use Issues in Patients With CKD

Explicit criteria for judging medication safety and use issues in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are lacking. Quality improvement report. Nephrologists (n = 4), primary care physicians (n = 2), hospital pharmacists with expertise in nephrology (n = 4), and community pharmacists (n = 2). The PAIR (Pharmacotherapy Assessment in Chronic Renal Disease) criteria were applied retrospectively to 90 patients with CKD in a randomized study. Development of an explicit set of criteria to enable rapid and systematic detection of drug-related problems (DRPs). Using a RAND method, experts judged the clinical significance of DRPs and the appropriateness of a community pharmacist intervention. The PAIR criteria include 50 DRPs grouped into 6 categories. DRPs detected using the PAIR criteria compared with implicit clinical judgment by nephrology pharmacists. Prevalence of DRPs and reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the PAIR criteria. A mean of 2.5 DRPs/patient (95% CI, 2.0-3.1) was identified based on the PAIR criteria compared with 3.9 DRPs/patient (95% CI, 3.4-4.5) based on clinical judgment of nephrology pharmacists. Inter-rater reliability coefficients (κ) by PAIR category varied from 0.80-1.00, with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.93 (95% CI, 0.89-0.95) for total DRPs per patient. Test-retest reliability coefficients by category varied from 0.74-1.00, with an ICC of 0.91 (95% CI, 0.82-0.96) for total DRPs per patient. During the study, the mean number of DRPs per patient did not change significantly when assessed using the PAIR criteria and clinical judgment. The prevalence of PAIR DRPs may be underestimated due to the retrospective nature of the validation. The prevalence of DRPs requiring the intervention of community pharmacists is high in patients with CKD. The PAIR criteria are reliable, but their responsiveness remains to be shown.

A multidisciplinary approach to improve drug therapy in nursing homes

Management of drug therapy in nursing home patients is challenging due to complex health problems, use of multiple medications, and age-related changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. The objective of this study was, first, to examine the effect of systematic medication reviews conducted by multidisciplinary nursing home teams on prescribing quality and, second, to evaluate if drug therapy changes were maintained over time. Patients in a large nursing home in Oslo, Norway, were prospectively followed during a 1.5-year period. Systematic comprehensive medication reviews were carried out and the identified drug-related problems (DRPs) were discussed at multidisciplinary team meetings. After 3 months, the patients’ drug regimens were reviewed again to evaluate if drug therapy changes were maintained. Altogether, 93 patients were included (89% women, mean age 87 years). In total, 234 DRPs were identified in 82 patients, and 151 drug therapy changes were performed in 73 patients. The most common DRPs were ‘drug treatment without a clear indication’ (37% of all DRPs) and ‘treatment with an inappropriate drug’ (20%). After 3 months, 85 patients (91%) were available for follow-up. In these patients, 133 (88%) of the drug therapy changes were maintained, and the mean number of DRPs had decreased from 2.6 to 1.0 per patient (P < 0.01). We were able to demonstrate that medication reviews conducted by multidisciplinary teams were effective to improve the quality of drug treatment in nursing home patients by significantly reducing both number of drugs and number of DRPs. The large majority of drug therapy changes were maintained after 3 months.

Drug-related problems in elderly general practice patients receiving pharmaceutical care†

AbstractObjectiveTo describe the types of drug-related problems identified by pharmacists providing pharmaceutical care to elderly patients in the primary care or general medicine setting, and the impact of their recommendations on drug-related outcomes.MethodsSearches of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, HealthSTAR, and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts electronic databases from 1990 to 2002 were conducted and a manual search of references from retrieved articles and references on file was performed. Large (n&amp;gt; 100) randomised, controlled studies comparing the provision of pharmaceutical care to usual care in seniors in primary care or general medicine settings were included. Two reviewers evaluated articles based on inclusion criteria and extracted data from the intervention arm of each study, resolving discrepancies by consensus. Nine original articles were included for analysis.Key findingsThe mean number of drug-related problems (DRPs) identified per patient was 3.2 and the mean number of recommendations made per patient was 3.3. The most common DRP identified was not taking/receiving a prescribed drug appropriately (35.2%, range 4.7–49.3%). The most common recommendations made involved patient education (37.2%, range 4.6–48.2%). Implementation rates were generally high for all types of recommendations, with the highest being for provision of patient education (81.6%). The small number of studies available examining measures of drug utilisation and costs, health services utilisation, and patient outcomes produced inconsistent results, making it difficult to draw conclusions.ConclusionsSubstantial numbers and a wide range of DRPs were identified by pharmacists who provided pharmaceutical care to seniors in the primary care and general medicine setting. Pharmacists' drug-therapy recommendations were well accepted; however, further study is needed to determine the impact of these recommendations on health-related outcomes.

Drug-Related Problems in Patients Undergoing Elective Total Joint Arthroplasty of the Hip or Knee

Few studies have evaluated drug-related problems in patients undergoing elective total hip or knee arthroplasty. To quantify, for patients undergoing elective total joint arthroplasty, drug-related problems arising from medication orders written before or immediately after the surgery. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with at least one drug-related problem. The secondary outcomes were the total number and descriptions of these problems, according to the patient's age and the category, type, and severity of the drug-related problem. From among patients who underwent elective total joint arthroplasty in a large Canadian regional health authority in 2005, 150 were randomly selected for this chart audit. Patients were included if they had been taking more than one medication before surgery. The charts were examined for drug-related problems, which were categorized according to whether the problem involved a prescription for a home medication, an order for a postoperative medication, or a potential indication for drug therapy. The problems were further described by type and potential severity. Of the 146 patients whose charts were available, 116 (79.5%) had at least one drug-related problem, with a mean of 1.88 drug-related problems per patient. Of the 146 patients, 88 (60.3%) had at least one drug-related problem involving a home medication, 34 (23.3%) had problems related to postoperative orders, and 37 (25.3%) had problems related to a potential indication. The mean number of drug-related problems per patient was 2.03 for those 65 years of age or older and 1.56 for those younger than 65 years (p = 0.09); however, more of the older patients experienced at least one drug-related problem related to home medications (67% [67/100] versus 46% [21/46], p = 0.02). The most common types of problems were medication omissions, illegible drug orders, inappropriate dose or frequency, and drug-allergy interactions. Of the 275 drug-related problems identified, 147 (53.5%) were deemed potentially harmful, 78 (28.4%) required monitoring, and 50 (18.2%) were considered not harmful. In this study, patients who underwent total joint arthroplasty experienced many drug-related problems. Pharmacists may have opportunities to optimize patient care by identifying, resolving, and preventing drug-related problems in this patient population.

Pharmacist-Based Medication Review Reduces Potential Drug-Related Problems in the Elderly

The high prevalence of drug-related problems (DRPs) in the elderly, occurring as a result of multiple drug use combined with age-related changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, is a well known phenomenon. However, effective intervention strategies are uncommon. A pharmacy-based controlled trial (SMOG [Screening Medicatie Oudere Geneesmiddelgebruiker; Screening Medications in the Older Drug User]) was performed to investigate whether a community pharmacist-led intervention reduces the number of potential DRPs in patients aged > or = 65 years using six or more drugs concomitantly. This intervention study was conducted from June 2002 until June 2003 in 16 community pharmacies in the Netherlands. Medication assessment was undertaken in elderly patients aged > or = 65 years using six or more drugs concomitantly on the date of inclusion. Ten types of potential DRPs were determined and grouped into the following three categories: (i) patient-related potential DRPs: non-compliance; (ii) prescriber-related potential DRPs: expired indication, therapeutic duplication, inappropriate dosage (over- and under-dosage), off-label use, undertreatment, inconvenience of use; and (iii) drug-related potential DRPs: contraindications, drug-drug interactions, drug treatment of adverse drug reactions. A list of recommended changes in medication was compiled by the pharmacist for the patients in the intervention group. Recommendations for medication change were discussed with the general practitioner (GP). Four months after the date of inclusion, the medications of each patient were again reviewed and screened for potential DRPs. The primary outcome corresponded to the change in the number of potential DRPs; the secondary outcome was related to the change in number of used medications between the intervention group and the control group at baseline and 4 months later. A total of 174 patients were analysed: 87 patients in the intervention arm and 87 patients in the usual care arm. After a 4-month period, we observed a significant reduction in the mean number of DRPs per patient (mean difference -16.3%; 95% CI -24.3, -8.3). The mean number of drugs per patient was not significantly reduced (mean difference -4.7%; 95% CI -9.6, 0.2). This study showed a positive influence of the community pharmacist in reducing potential DRPs in the elderly. Future interventions should also focus on actual outcomes, including quality of life, morbidity and mortality.