Evaluation of a computerized digoxin pharmacokinetic consultation service.
A pharmacy-conducted digoxin pharmacokinetic consultation service was implemented to determine the influence of the service on patient serum digoxin concentrations. Changes in digoxin dosages and serum levels during a three-week period were compared with a three-week control period in which the consultation was not offered. Of 47 patients evaluated, there was no statistically significant (P > 0.05) difference between the control and the study group in terms of population variables. The study group receiving pharmacokinetic consultations showed a significantly greater (P > 0.05) number of dosage changes resulting in therapeutic serum drug levels than did the control group whose physicians received a report of serum drug level by itself. The number of patients with steady-state serum digoxin levels in the therapeutic range of 1-2 ng/ml increased from 45.5% to 80% as a result of the clinical pharmacokinetic consultations. This study demonstrated that a pharmacy-based clinical pharmacokinetic consultation service can provide potential benefits to the patient by aiding clinicians in optimizing serum drug concentrations.
D003201:Computers; D004077:Digoxin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004346:Drug Information Services; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D006801:Humans; D008838:Microcomputers; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012237:Rhode Island