title: Drug-related problems identified by pharmacists conducting medication use reviews at a primary health center in Qatar.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Medication use review (MUR) is increasingly being recognized globally as a routine strategy performed by pharmacists to optimize the therapeutic outcomes of long-term medications. MUR services are not commonly available in hospitals and primary health care (PHC) centers in Qatar and no previous studies have reported the nature and extent of such services where they exist.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the extent and types of drug-related problems (DRPs) generated from MUR interactions conducted at a PHC facility in Qatar and to determine the effect of patient characteristics on the number of DRPs.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional, descriptive and exploratory study. Data were generated and documented prospectively via semi-private interviews conducted by intervention pharmacists (n = 6). DRPs identified were categorized according to the Pharmaceutical Care Network of Europe DRP classification system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 56 medication reviews conducted, a total of 173 DRPs were identified with an average of 3.3 DRPs per patient. The most commonly encountered DRPs were non-adherence (31 %), need for education (23 %), and adverse drug reactions (21 %). Patients receiving six or more medications had significantly higher number of DRPs compared to those receiving three medications (p ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, elderly patients tended to have more DRPs compared to younger patients and there was a linear relationship between age and DRPs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that patients receiving polypharmacy and the elderly in Qatar are vulnerable to experiencing DRPs, many of which are potentially preventable through MURs.
authors: College of Pharmacy, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar, nadirk@qu.edu.qa.
authors: Nadir
authors: N
authors: Kheir
authors: Ahmed
authors: A
authors: Awaisu
authors: Amal
authors: A
authors: Sharfi
authors: Maha
authors: M
authors: Kida
authors: Abdullah
authors: A
authors: Adam
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D059065:Medication Reconciliation; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019338:Polypharmacy; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011780:Qatar; D000078329:Workforce; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D055553:Prescription Drugs