[Health related problems as cause of visits to hospital emergency departments].
OBJECTIVE
Medication-related problems (MRPs) are health problems resulting from patient pharmacotherapy failure that interfere with the expected outcome in the patient's health status. The aim of this study was to discover the health problems associated with the appearance of MRPs.


METHODS
Patient interviews, together with the assessment of medical records were the sources of information used in the assessment and identification of MRPs. A validated questionnaire was used for the interviews; in order to classify the health problems found, the ICD-9 was used.


RESULTS
2,556 patients were interviewed over a period of one year at a hospital emergency department. 2,261 of these cases were valid. Osteoarticular diseases, poorly defined signs and symptoms of illness, injuries and intoxications were the disorders most commonly associated with the appearance of MRPs. MRPs of necessity and effectiveness had a similar profile. MRPs of safety were more commonly associated with poorly defined signs and symptoms of illness, injuries and intoxications, as well as nervous, digestive and blood problems.


CONCLUSIONS
Most frequent medication related health problems causing visits to hospital emergency departments were osteoarticular disorders, followed by poorly defined signs and symptoms of illness. Differences were observed in the diagnoses between the different dimensions and types of MRP.
Baena Parejo
M Isabel
MI
Hospital Universitario San Cecilio de Granada, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain. i.baena@vodafone.es
Faus Dáder
M José
MJ
Marín Iglesias
Rosario
R
Zarzuelo Zurita
Antonio
A
Jiménez Martín
José
J
Martínez Olmos
José
J
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017211:Treatment Failure