Clinical pharmacy is a component of pharmacy that focuses on optimizing and rationalizing the use of medications to improve patient treatment outcomes and quality of life.
The aim of our research was to classify drug-related problems (DRPs) identified by clinical pharmacists during outpatient and inpatient care of patients according to the PCNE classification V9.1. We were particularly interested in assessing the extent to which the attending physician followed and implemented the recommendations of the clinical pharmacist and what the outcomes of these interventions were. The study included 34 outpatient and 72 hospitalized patients, for whom clinical pharmacists at the University Medical Centre Maribor conducted pharmacotherapy review between 2020 and 2021.
For outpatient patients, the median age was 44 years (range: 16-88), with a majority being male (53 %). The median number of medications in regular therapy was 7 (range: 3-14). A total of 75 DRPs were recorded among outpatient patients, with the highest number observed in a single patient being 8. The median number of DRPs per patient was 2 (range: 1-8). The most common type of DRP was a suspected adverse drug reaction (41/75, 54 %), with the most common cause being inappropriate drug combination (23/75, 30 %). Intervention was proposed by the clinical pharmacist in 75 % (56/75) of cases and accepted by the physician in 46 out of 56 cases (82 %). Overall, intervention was accepted in 61 % of DRPs (46/75), and the DPR was at least partially resolved in 45 % (34/75) of cases.
For hospitalized patients, the median age was 64 years (15-94), with a majority also being male (60 %). The median number of medications in regular therapy was 12, with one patient receiving up to 24 medications (range: 4-24). A total of 209 DRPs were recorded during hospitalization, with a median of 3 DRPs per patient (range: 1-10). The most common type and cause of DRPs in these patients were suspected adverse drug reactions (101/209, 48 %) and inappropriate drug combination (73/209, 35 %). Intervention was proposed by the clinical pharmacist in 90 % (189/209) of cases and accepted by the physician in 71 % (148/209). DRPs were (partially) resolved in 61 % (129/209) of cases.
Through this research, we have demonstrated the importance of providing pharmacotherapy review by a clinical pharmacist for outpatient and hospitalized patients.
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