DOI: njcpt.com.ng/101.1.2.21
Correspondence: Abatur C.S.
Pharmacy information, training and research unit,
Pharmacy Department, Federal Medical Center, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria.
Email: uadoopolycarpaba2@gmail.com.
Phone number: 08035902741
To Download Full Manuscript Click Here – DRUG THERAPY PROBLEMS IN GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE: PHARMACIST'S INTERVENTIONS: A RETROSPECTIVE DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF A TERTIARY HOSPITAL IN NIGERIA
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Drug Therapy Problems (DTPs) are a major challenge in healthcare. They are associated with increased length of hospitalization, increased cost of treatment, misdiagnosis, decreased patients satisfaction with care, and increased morbidity and mortality. Pharmacists are trained professionals with the expertise to identify DTPs, whether actual or potential, and make necessary interventions via the practice of Pharmaceutical Care. However, in Nigeria, this role of Pharmacists is seldom known and appreciated.
Objectives: The objective of this study was to carry out a quantitative analysis and classification of DTPs and interventions done by Pharmacists in the hospital, and to showcase the acceptability of this role of Pharmacists especially by Physicians.
Method: The research was conducted in Federal Medical Center (FMC), Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. It was a retrospective cross-sectional study in which data was obtained from medical records of patients hospitalized from January, 2014 to December, 2014 into the wards of internal medicine. All DTPs identified and interventions made by
Pharmacists within the year 2014, evidenced by documentation, were extracted. Analyses were done using simple descriptive statistics. The acceptability of this Pharmacists role was measured using level of implementation of interventions by Physicians.
Results: A total of 566 patients were attended to by the Pharmacists with 234 identified and documented DTPs. A total of 233(99.57%) interventions were made, 3 of which were unnecessary interventions .. Out of the 233 interventions made by Pharmacists, 224 [96.14%] were implemented while 9 [3.86%] were not. Polypharmacy and co-morbidities were identified as major predictors of DTPs. There was one DTP identified with no intervention.
Conclusion: It was observed that there was general acceptability of Pharmacists' role in identifying and resolving DTPs as evidenced by the high level of implementation of Pharmacists interventions. Comorbidities and polypharmacy were identified as the major contributory factor to the occurrence of DTPs in these patients.
Keywords: Drug Therapy Problems( DTPs), Pharmacists Interventions.