ST.JAMES COLLEGE OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES,CHALAKUDY kottayam, India
Background: Drug Related Problems (DRPs) are common in almost all hospitals that affect patient’s treatment quality and clinical outcome.
Objectives: The study aimed to identify, classify and to determine the prevalence and predictors of DRPs.
Methods: A prospective interventional study was conducted at general medicine unit of a 440 bedded tertiary care teaching hospital in 300 patients for a duration of 10 months.The enrolled patients were followed on a daily basis during their stay in the hospital. The treatment charts of the enrolled patients were reviewed on a daily basis to identify the DRPs. The identified DRPs were classified as per Hepler and Strand Classification and were communicated to the healthcare professionals with suitable management strategies.
Results: The study could find out 211 DRPs in 179 patients. DRPs due to drug interaction and cardiovascular drugs were highest. The prevalence of DRPs was found to be 59.66 percentage. In the determination of Predictors of (DRPs), the predictor - number of Comorbities was found highly significantly associated with DRPs.
Conclusions: The study could conclude that pharmacist involvement as a member of muiltidesciplinary team in the healthcare settings, can help in early identification and prevention of Drug Related Problems.
