A brief analysis of clinical pharmacy interventions undertaken in an Australian teaching hospital.
Selected clinical pharmacy interventions undertaken during a 30-day data capture period were analysed, seeking to gain a greater understanding of the nature of the drug-related problems involved. Pharmacists were asked to record only interventions that were of potentially major significance. A total of 67 interventions were submitted for analysis. In 28 cases (41.7% of the initial total) the intervention reports were excluded from further analysis after initial review. For the remaining 39 interventions, 20 patients (51%) were under the care of a medical unit, and cardiovascular/antithrombotic agents accounted for 17 reports (43.5%). The majority of interventions were implemented at the time of inpatient medication order review by the clinical pharmacist (n=25, 64%). The most common category of drug-related problem addressed in the interventions related to the prescription of inappropriately high doses of the correct drug for the patient (n=17, 43.6%). Deficiencies in technical knowledge accounted for less than 25% of all cases.
Alderman
C P
CP
Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia. Chris.Alderman@rgh.sa.gov.au
Farmer
C
C
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000592:standards*; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D011446:Prospective Studies