[Survey on drug-related problems in Lithuania's pharmacies].
OBJECTIVE
to survey the most common and the most important drug-related problems in Lithuania, to explore their solution and factors influencing it, to formulate recommendations for solving drug-related problems.


METHODS
Pharmacists from community pharmacies participated in a random survey. They filled in questionnaires about drug-related problems and their solutions. It was the first survey on drug-related problems ever carried out in Lithuania.


RESULTS
For the first time, it was found out that in Lithuania pharmacists most commonly encountered drug-related problem--additional drug therapy (52.03% of respondents)--and most rarely encountered drug-related problem--dosage too high (3% of respondents). Pharmacists stated that all categories of drug-related problems were of equal importance. It was established that pharmacists commonly solved drug-related problems associated with noncompliance with instructions (72.5% of respondents) and rarely met the problem when improper drug was selected (39.56% of respondents).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients taking prescription medicines commonly encounter additional drug therapy problem, and patients taking nonprescription medications commonly encounter problems related to noncompliance with instructions.
Kubiliene
Loreta
L
Department of Drug Technology and Pharmacy Organization, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kaunas University of Medicine, AKaunas, Lithuania. loreta@efarmacija.lt
Liukenskyte
Simona
S
Savickas
Arūnas
A
Jureniene
Kristina
K
D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000639:trends; D003625:Data Collection; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004358:Drug Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008097:Lithuania; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000639:trends*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D004366:Nonprescription Drugs