title: Identifying drug-related problems during transition between secondary and primary care in New Zealand.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to identify the type and frequency of drug-related problems (DRPs) that are encountered when dispensing secondary care prescriptions in community pharmacy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted attempting to recruit all patients presenting with secondary care prescriptions to a single community pharmacy in New Zealand over a 3-month period. The DRPs were recorded to allow analysis of the types and frequencies of the problems seen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the 3-month period 401 patients consented to participate and 840 prescription items were analysed. DRPs were identified in 20% of prescription items analysed (n = 172), affecting 38% patients (n = 155). Bureaucratic interventions concerning product availability and payment issues accounted for 55% and affected 11% of the prescription items analysed. The remaining 45% of DRPs concerned clinical and patient issues and affected 9% of prescription items.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has shown that the secondary-primary interface is problematic with respect to DRPs. Although pharmacists are in a position to identify and act on these DRPs, access to basic patient notes such as a discharge summary and including pharmacists in the communication between secondary and primary providers should assist in achieving seamless care for the patient and help to identify and prevent DRPs.
authors: Hillpark Pharmacy Ltd, Manurewa, New Zealand.
authors: Kathryn
authors: K
authors: Maxwell
authors: Jeff
authors: J
authors: Harrison
authors: Shane
authors: S
authors: Scahill
authors: Rhiannon
authors: R
authors: Braund
mesh_terms: D003157:Community Pharmacy Services; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D010595:Pharmacists; D011320:Primary Health Care; D024382:Professional Role; D063127:Secondary Health Care
keywords: community pharmacy; drug-related problems; interventions; primary-secondary interface