title: Impact of educational intervention on the pattern and incidence of potential drug-drug interactions in Nepal.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the impact of educational intervention on the pattern and incidence of potential drug-drug interactions (DDIs).
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients admitted to Internal Medicine wards of Manipal Teaching Hospital during the study period were included. Patient details were collected using a patient profile form and the datum from the filled forms was analyzed using Micromedex electronic database. An intervention was carried out through a presentation during clinical meeting and personal discussion. The target groups for the intervention included doctors and the nurses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Altogether 435 patients during preintervention and 445 during postintervention were studied. The incidence of potential DDIs was 53% (preintervention) and 41% (postintervention) [chi-square =11.27, p=0.001]. The average number of drugs per patient was 8.53 (pre-intervention) and 7.32 (post-intervention) [t=3.493, p=0.001]. Sixty-four percent of the potential DDIs were of 'Moderate' type and 58% had a 'Delayed' onset in both the phases. Seventy percent of the potential DDIs during the pre-intervention phase and 61% during post-intervention phase had a 'Good' documentation status. Pharmacokinetic mechanism accounted for 45% of the potential DDIs during preintervention and 36% in the post-intervention phase. Cardiovascular drugs accounted for 36% of the potential DDIs during pre-intervention and 33.2% during post-intervention phase. Furosemide was the high risk drug responsible for DDIs in both phases. The most common potential DDIs observed were between amlodipine and atenolol (4.82%) (preintervention) and frusemide and aspirin (5.20%) (postintervention).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was an association between potential DDIs and age, sex, and polypharmacy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Medical Sciences. Pokhara ( Nepal ).
authors.forename: Durga
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bista
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Medical Sciences. Pokhara ( Nepal ).
authors.forename: Archana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.affiliation: Department of Hospital and clinical pharmacy, Manipal Teaching Hospital. Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Medical Sciences. Pokhara ( Nepal ).
authors.forename: Pranaya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.affiliation: Department of Hospital and clinical pharmacy, Manipal Teaching Hospital. Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Medical Sciences. Pokhara ( Nepal ).
authors.forename: Subish
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palaian
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Medical Sciences. Pokhara ( Nepal ).
authors.forename: Pathiyil R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Shankar
keywords: Continuing; Drug Interactions; Education; Inpatients; Nepal