title: Medication review practices in European countries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Medication review procedures have been developed in many countries to improve rational and safe medication use. The similarities, comprehensiveness, and effectiveness of these procedures has not been assessed, or compared.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to explore medication review practices in European countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online survey was sent to 32 European countries (all 28 European Union countries and 4 other European countries) by email to one person in each country known to be aware of medication review practices in their country in May 2011. The informants were identified through Pharmaceutical Group of European Union. To complement and validate the information received through Pharmaceutical Group of European Union, medication review experts involved in Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe were contacted. The survey assessed comprehensiveness of the medication review procedures classified according to 3 types in terms of settings; access to patient clinical information; patient involvement; availability of documentation and information; collaboration with the physician; quality control, and training required.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Almost two thirds (64%) of the 25 European countries which responded (response rate 78%) indicated having at least one type of medication review procedure in their country. In the community setting prescription (type I) and adherence (type II) medication reviews were the most common (established in 9 and 11 countries, respectively). More comprehensive type III clinical medication reviews requiring access to clinical patient information were still rare, and just being established in 6 countries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Medication review procedures are becoming common in health care throughout Europe, however improving their comprehensiveness would require better access to patient information for those professionals conducting clinical medication reviews. In addition to benchmarking, the inventory can enhance cooperation between countries and stakeholders involved in medication review practice development nationally and internationally.
authors.affiliation: Division of Social Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, 00014 Finland. Electronic address: anna.bulajeva@gmail.com.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bulajeva
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institute and University Hospital, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Labberton
authors.affiliation: The Association of Finnish Pharmacies, Pieni Roobertinkatu 14 C, 00120 Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leikola
authors.affiliation: Division of Social Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, 00014 Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pohjanoksa-Mäntylä
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacotherapy and Pharmaceutical Care, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 Av Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M M E
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Geurts
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacotherapy and Pharmaceutical Care, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 Av Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: de Gier
authors.affiliation: Division of Social Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, 00014 Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Airaksinen
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D055118:Medication Adherence; D059065:Medication Reconciliation / Q000379:methods
keywords: Clinical medication review; Collaborative practice; European countries; Medication review; Medication safety; Rational drug use