[Drug-related problems in the emergency department observation area of a third-level hospital].
OBJECTIVE
The therapeutic armamentarium of developed countries has experienced a great advance; however, increased drug therapy not only provides benefits, as the inappropriate use of drugs results in relevant consequences for patients.


METHODS
A 3-month, descriptive, cross-sectional, randomized study in 125 patients seen at the emergency department observation area of a third-level hospital to identify drug-related problems (DRPs). A hospital adaptation of Dader s method was used.


RESULTS
A mean of 0.94 DRPs per patient was obtained. Major DRPs (mDRPs) represented 50% of all DRPs; 69.50% of DRPs were avoidable; 44% were moderate, 38% mild, and 18% serious; 54.4% of patients were admitted to hospital, which originated in a mDRP in 25% of cases--this represents 50% of all patients with a mDRP.


CONCLUSIONS
A significant portion of patients admitted to the observation area present there as a result of a DRP.
Cubero-Caballero
S
S
Fundación Reina Sofia-SEFH, Servicios de Observación de Urgencias, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia, Córdoba, Spain.
Torres-Murillo
Campos-Pérez
M A
MA
Gómez del Río
S
S
Calleja-Hernández
M A
MA
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged