An assessment of the usage of the plasma theophylline assay service in a teaching hospital.
A four-week assessment of all inpatients who had been prescribed theophylline therapy was carried out at a major Australian teaching hospital. A total of 49 theophylline assays was requested for 36 of 116 patients who were prescribed theophylline. Only 38 (78%) assays were ordered for appropriate indications and at appropriate times. In 26 of the 34 appropriately requested assays that could be followed-up, appropriate action was judged to have been taken on receipt of the assay result. Of the 80 patients who were prescribed theophylline for whom theophylline assays were not ordered, 19 might have benefited from the performance of an assay. It is concluded that the theophylline assay service is not being used optimally.
D001315:Australia; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013806:Theophylline / Q000097:blood*
D013806:Theophylline