Frequency and characteristics of hospital admissions associated with drug-related problems in paediatrics.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency of paediatric hospital admissions associated with drug-related problems (DRPs) at two Australian hospitals.


METHODS
The investigator and ward pharmacists prospectively screened eligible patients. A multidisciplinary panel reviewed data and established causality, preventability and clinical significance classifications.


RESULTS
Over 22 weeks of data collection, a total of 11,564 patients were admitted, 2933 met eligibility criteria. Of those eligible, 127 [4.3%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.6, 5.0] were judged to have hospital admissions associated with DRPs. Direct costs associated with DRPs identified totalled pounds 100,707. Of the 81 cases assessed for preventability, 46.9% were deemed preventable.


CONCLUSIONS
This research has provided information on the nature and characteristics of paediatric DRPs associated with hospital admissions.
Easton
Kylie L
KL
Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Sydney, Building A15, NSW, Australia 2006. keaston@kps.org.au
Chapman
Colin B
CB
Brien
Jo-anne E
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy