title: Utility of an Algorithm to Increase the Accuracy of Medication History in an Obstetrical Setting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In an obstetrical setting, inaccurate medication histories at hospital admission may result in failure to identify potentially harmful treatments for patients and/or their fetus(es).
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study was conducted to assess average concordance rates between (1) a medication list obtained with a one-page structured medication history algorithm developed for the obstetrical setting and (2) the medication list reported in medical records and obtained by open-ended questions based on standard procedures. Both lists were converted into concordance rate using a best possible medication history approach as the reference (information obtained by patients, prescribers and community pharmacists' interviews).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The algorithm-based method obtained a higher average concordance rate than the standard method, with respectively 90.2% [CI95% 85.8-94.3] versus 24.6% [CI95%15.3-34.4] concordance rates (p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our algorithm-based method strongly enhanced the accuracy of the medication history in our obstetric population, without using substantial resources. Its implementation is an effective first step to the medication reconciliation process, which has been recognized as a very important component of patients' drug safety.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva and University of Lausanne, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Aline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Corbel
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baud
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Aziz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chaouch
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacy, Central Institute of the Valais Hospitals, Sion, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Johnny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beney
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva and University of Lausanne, Geneva, Switzerland.|Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Csajka
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva and University of Lausanne, Geneva, Switzerland.|Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Panchaud
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D009774:Obstetrics