title: The effect of a specialist clinic with pharmacist involvement on the management of epilepsy in paediatric patients.
abstract: At the request of the consultant, a pharmacist attended the paediatric out-patient neurology clinic held at Ga-Rankuwa Hospital, from June 1984. After 6 months of this 'team' approach, its effect on patient care was evaluated. The study consisted of a retrospective survey of approximately 100 patient-visits before and after the establishment of the specialist clinic. Patient medication details and frequency of fits were analysed by a microcomputer. There was an increase in the number of patients seen per session. The results also showed that polypharmacy, dosing frequency and average dose per day were reduced under the new arrangement, whilst disease control, i.e. fit frequency, was no worse. The overall result has been to rationalize and improve anticonvulsant drug therapy at this clinic.
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004363:Drug Utilization; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010595:Pharmacists; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants