Medication report reduces number of medication errors when elderly patients are discharged from hospital

Objective To investigate whether a Medication Report can reduce the number of medication errors when elderly patients are discharged from hospital. Method We conducted a prospective intervention with retrospective controls on patients at three departments at Lund University Hospital, Sweden that where transferred to primary care. The intervention group, where patients received a Medication Report at discharge, was compared with a control group with patients of the same age, who were not given a Medication Report when discharged from the same ward one year earlier. Main outcome measures The main outcome measure was the number of medication errors when elderly patients were discharged from hospital. Results Among 248 patients in the intervention group 79 (32%) had at least one medication error as compared with 118 (66%) among the 179 patients in the control group. In the intervention group 15% of the patients had errors that were considered to have moderate or high risk of clinical consequences compared with 32% in the control group. The differences were statistically significant (P < 0.001). Conclusion Medication errors are common when elderly patients are discharged from hospital. The Medication Report is a simple tool that reduces the number of medication errors.     

Medication errors when transferring elderly patients between primary health care and hospital care

Objective: The aims were to evaluate the frequency and nature of errors in medication when patients are transferred between primary and secondary care.Method: Elderly primary health care patients (> 65years) living in nursing homes or in their own homes with care provided by the community nursing system, had been admitted to one of two hospitals in southern Sweden, one university hospital and one local hospital. A total of 69 patient-transfers were included. Of these, 34 patients were admitted to hospital whereas 35 were discharged from hospital.Main outcome measure: Percentage medication errors of all medications i.e. any error in the process of prescribing, dispensing, or administering a drug, and whether these had adverse consequences or not.Results: There were 142 medication errors out of 758 transfers of medications. The patients in this study used on an average more than 10 drugs before, during and after hospital stay. On an average, there were two medication errors each time a patient was transferred between primary and secondary care. When patients were discharged from the hospital, the usage of a specific medication dispensing system constituted a significant risk for medication errors. The most common error when patients were transferred to the hospital was inadvertent withdrawal of drugs. When patients left the hospital the most common error was that drugs were erroneously added.Conclusion: Medication errors are common when elderly patients are transferred between primary and secondary care. Improvement in documentation and transferring data about elderly patients medications could reduce these errors. The specific medication dispensing system that has been used in order to increase safety in medication dispensing does not seem to be a good instrument to reduce the number of errors in transferring data about medication.     

Student-Led discharge counseling program for High-Risk medications in a teaching hospital in Saudi Arabia: A pilot study

Discharge counseling by pharmacists reduces adverse medication events, emergency department visits, and readmissions. Studies indicate that pharmacy students in advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPE) can deliver effective medication-related activities. An open label randomized controlled trial was conducted in adults discharged on warfarin, insulin, or both. Pharmacy students performed medication reconciliation, structured medication counseling, and follow-up calls 72-hours post-discharge. The usual care arm received traditional education. The primary outcome was the 30-day readmission rate post-discharge. Ninety-eight patients on high-risk medications were randomized to intervention (n = 51) or usual care (n = 47). The 30-day hospital readmission rate was lower in the intervention group (8/51, 15% vs. 11/47, 23%); (p = 0.48). There was no statistical difference in the time to first unplanned health care use (hazard ratio = 0.49 (95 %CI, 0.19–1.24), or the time-to-first clinic visit post-discharge (p = 0.94) between the two arms. Students identified 26 drug-related problems during reconciliation. Patients in the intervention arm reported high satisfaction with the service (mean 3.94; SD 0.11). Involving APPE students in the transition of care activities presents an excellent opportunity to minimize pharmacists' workload while maintaining patient care services.     

《临床用药须知》在临床药学中的作用

通过对《临床用药须知》内涵的解读,联系临床药学的职责,探索如何在临床药学服务中更好地发挥《临床用药须知》的专业指导作用.     

临床药师开展药物治疗管理的实践经验与成本-效益分析

目的 应用药物治疗管理（medication therapy management,MTM）的标准化流程为患者提供药学服务,通过成本-效益分析评价MTM是否具有经济学效益。方法 应用MTM模式对患者进行药学服务,记录患者一般情况,疾病、用药情况及药品费用,对患者的用药及生活方式问题,分析并提出行动计划,随访。成本-效益研究以MTM服务为成本,药品治疗费用的减少为效益,计算服务前后的成本-效益比。结果 临床药师对80例患者进行了MTM服务,最终完成59例,患者男女比例为39：20,平均年龄（62.39±15.75）岁,使用药物446种,人均（7.56±3.77）种,发现患者用药问题与生活问题255例并进行干预,干预成功率73.33%。服务前后用药成本分别作为2组进行统计分析,发现干预后用药费用明显低于干预前（P<0.05）,成本-效益比值B/C=4.25>1。结论 临床药师开展MTM服务可以提高患者依从性,改善用药问题与生活方式,且为患者提供积极的经济学影响。     

结合用药分析探讨临床药师工作思路

目的:为快速提高临床药师的用药水平提供参考。方法:以典型病例的用药医嘱单为例,从患者、药物、不良反应等方面进行"八股文"式分析。结果:"八股文"式病例分析可以加快用药分析的学习进度,更容易找到临床药师的工作切入点。结论:用药分析对于临床药师开展工作与提高医疗团队的药疗水平有着极其重要的意义。     

开展药物整合教学 深化临床药学教育改革

阐述药物整合概念以及临床药师通过药物整合开展临床药学服务的意义,探讨如何在临床药学教学中开展药物整合教学,以培养具有实践能力的临床药师,体现临床药师的价值,深化临床药学教育改革。     

临床药师开展用药教育对老年高血压合并高胆固醇血症患者的影响

目的：探讨临床药师开展用药教育对老年高血压合并高胆固醇血症患者用药依从性及治疗达标率的影响。方法：依据是否实施用药教育将老年高血压合并高胆固醇血症患者分为试验组和对照组,分别在用药教育前和教育后半年对2组患者进行用药依从性和治疗达标率的调查。结果：临床药师通过用药教育可提高老年高血压合并高胆固醇血症患者的用药依从性和降压调脂治疗达标率。结论：影响老年高血压合并高胆固醇血症患者用药依从性的因素是多方面的,临床药师可通过个体化的用药指导,提高药物治疗的依从性及治疗达标率。     

欧洲医药保健网分类系统在呼吸科老年人多重用药中的应用研究

目的采用欧洲医药保键网(Pharmaceutical care network Europe,PCNE)分类系统对老年多重用药患者的药物相关问题(Drug related problems,DRPs)进行分析和评估,从而为药师对老年患者的药学监护模式提供参考。方法回顾性收集2018-2019年在呼吸科住院且年龄≥65岁,服用5种药物以上的老年患者,对发生的药物相关问题的类型、原因、干预、干预接受程度及DRPs解决状态等方面进行分析。结果共纳入152例患者,发现DRPs共300个。平均年龄77.3岁,每人合并疾病的平均种类数3.4个,其中DRPs发生的次数1.97次/人。治疗安全性是主要问题,表现为药物不良事件,占54%。主要原因为药物相互作用,占39.7%。DRPs的干预类型中,针对医生方面占84%。DRPs问题最终解决65%。结论通过PCNE分类能及时发现和解决DRPs,同时有助于对老年多重用药患者的药学监护记录的标准化和规范化,为患者安全、有效、合理使用药物提供依据。     

全国临床安全用药监测网年度报告(2020)CSCD

全国临床安全用药监测网2020年收到全国24个省级行政区255家医院的用药错误(ME)报告15849例。上报ME的医院较2019年(234家)增长了8.97%,报告ME例数较2019年(15056例)增长了5.27%。15849例ME报告中A级错误54例(0.34%),B级12297例(77.59%),C级3010例(18.99%),D级358例(2.26%),E级72例(0.45%),F级52例(0.33%),G级0例,H级5例(0.03%),I级1例(0.01%)。B~I级ME涉及的15795例患者中男性9347例(59.18%),女性6448例(40.82%);年龄1 d~101岁,其中儿童(<18岁)1714例(10.85%),中青年人(≥18~<60岁)8355例(52.90%),老年人(≥60岁)5726例(36.25%)。导致患者伤害的严重ME(E~I级)涉及130例患者,男性77例(59.23%),女性53例(40.77%);年龄4个月14 d~94岁,其中儿童16例(12.31%),中青年人46例(35.38%),老年人68例(52.31%),老年人占比高于2019年(50.78%)。因误服药物导致严重ME的9例患者中7例为儿童,占儿童严重ME的43.75%(7/16)。54例A级错误未涉及错误引发人员和错误发生场所。15795例B~I级ME中,引发错误人员为医师者10748例(68.05%),药师3797例(24.04%),护士578例(3.66%),患者及家属329例(2.08%),其他343例(2.17%),由患者及家属引发ME的占比已连续3年逐年增高(2018和2019年分别为1.06%和2.04%),且49.23%(64/130)的严重ME为患者及家属引发;发生场所在门诊者6830例(43.24%)、病房3808例(24.11%)、药房3776例(23.91%)、静脉调配中心985例(6.24%)、护士站220例(1.39%)、患者家中161例(1.02%)、社区卫生站2例(0.01%)、其他13例(0.08%),门诊和患者家中占比已连续3年逐年升高(2018年分别为37.32%和0.41%,2019年分别为37.74%和0.89%)     

The use of goal attainment scaling during clinical medication review in older persons with polypharmacy

BackgroundStudies have shown that a clinical medication review (CMR) reduces drug-related problems (DRPs), but the effects on clinical outcomes are less clear. Perhaps, CMRs in older persons could me more effective when they focus on patients’ personal goals and health-related complaints.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate whether goal attainment scaling (GAS) is a useful tool for determining goals and monitoring their attainment during CMR.MethodsThis study was an analysis based on data of the intervention group of the DREAMeR-study; a randomised controlled trial investigating the effects of CMR in primary care. 315 persons aged ≥70 years using ≥7 drugs were randomised to the intervention: a CMR focused on personal goals using GAS. Outcome measures were: percentage of persons with health-related goals, attainment of goals measured with GAS-scores after three and six months, type of health-related goals and implementation rates of recommendations for GAS-related DRPs and other DRPs.ResultsA total of 406 health-related goals were set for 283 of 315 included persons (90%). Of the 350 evaluated goals (86%), 37% was attained after three months and 43% after six months. The goals ‘reduce pain’ (n = 66, 16%), ‘improve mobility’ (n = 57, 14%) and ‘reduce number of pills’ (n = 37, 9.1%) were most prevalent. The implementation rate of recommendations for GAS-related DRPs was 81% compared to 62% for not GAS-related DRPs (p < 0.05).ConclusionGoal setting is important for prioritizing the most important problems during clinical medication review and Goal Attainment Scaling seems to be a useful tool for monitoring the attainment of these goals.     

Project Octo-Pills - A practice model engaging community pharmacists in the care of patients from a tertiary hospital

Even while pharmacy practice evolves to a more patient-centric mode of practice, local hospitals, due to high patient load as well as space and resource constraints, find it challenging to conduct thorough medication review and physical medication reconciliation for all patients. In light of this, optimizing the local current healthcare system to involve community pharmacists in the care of patients from public hospitals could potentially better cater to the healthcare needs of the older population. Due to easy accessibility, community pharmacies are often the first point of contact in the healthcare system. Project Octo-Pills aims to engage community pharmacists in the collaborative care of patients from a tertiary hospital, providing patients with quality medication reconciliation and review services from a more convenient location within their neighborhood. This paper describes the model for this pilot initiative.     

Impact of pharmacist care in the management of autoimmune disorders: A systematic review of randomized control trials and non-randomized studies

IntroductionAutoimmune disorders are chronic, self-mediated, misdirected immune responses against their own immune system. It required intensive, complex and costly drug treatment regimen increased the risk of pharmacotherapy error and adversely affects patients. Hence, pharmacist care will have vital roles in autoimmune disorders to achieve health related outcomes.ObjectivesThis review aimed to gather evidence on the impact of pharmacist care on clinical, humanistic and economic outcomes, adherence to medications, and drug related problems in the management of autoimmune disorders among the usual care group.MethodologyA comprehensive review conducted in compliance with the PRISMA statement and systematic search was performed across five databases included PubMed Central, Web of Sciences, Scopus, Cochrane Library and google scholar from inception until August 2020. This research included full-text articles of randomized and non-randomized studies that evaluated impact of pharmacist care in autoimmune disorders.ResultsA total of nine studies were included (seven RCTs and two non-RCTs), including 829 patients with autoimmune disorders. A total of four studies (80%) show an enhancement in at least one clinical parameter due to pharmacist care. A substantial improvement in at least one humanistic parameter observed in all five studies (100%). While four out of five studies (80%) clearly displayed a remarkable improvement in medication adherence in the pharmacist care group from baseline to the completion of follow-ups. One study quantified a 99.08% resolution of DRPs in the pharmacist care group. Another study estimated the cost of medical resources uses per patient and found no difference in cost-effectiveness over six months between groups.ConclusionThis review reinforces the vital contribution of pharmacists to achieve clinical outcomes, humanistic outcomes, adherence to medications and DRPs in the efficient management of autoimmune disorders. However, no notable changes in economic outcomes were observed in this review.     

Pro-active provision of drug information as a technique to address overdosing in intensive-care patients with renal insufficiency

Purpose  To correct overdosing of drugs requiring adjustment based on renal function in intensive-care patients. Methods  In a prospective intervention study, we estimated individual glomerular filtration rate and assessed whether medication required dose adjustment based on renal function. Senior clinicians received a structured report containing recommendations as to whether and how to adjust dosage in the individual patient (intervention). Prevalence of overdosed drugs (primary outcome), extent of overdoses, and reasons for nonacceptance of recommendations (secondary outcomes) were assessed. Results  Of 138 screened intensive-care patients, 68 (49%) had renal impairment, and 110 (14%) of the 805 prescribed drugs required consideration of renal function. A potential overdose was found in 53/110 drugs (48%) and this rate decreased to 26/110 (24%, P < 0.001) after the intervention. The average extent of overdose was reduced from 54% before to 31% after the intervention (P < 0.001). The main reasons expressed by the physicians for nonacceptance of recommendations were a large therapeutic index or minor overdoses of the involved drugs. Conclusions  In intensive-care patients, overdosing of drugs requiring adjustment based on renal function is still very common. Drug information counselling significantly decreased the prevalence and extent of overdose.     

Using the costs of drug therapy to screen patients for a community pharmacy-based medication review program

OBJECTIVES: To measure the positive predictive value (PPV) of the cost of drug therapy (threshold = 2000 Swiss francs [CHF], US$1440, 1360) as a screening criterion for identifying patients who may benefit from medication review (MR). To describe identified drug-related problems (DRPs) and expense problems (EPs), and to estimate potential savings if all recommendations were accepted. SETTING: Five voluntary Swiss community pharmacies. METHODS: Of 12,680 patients, 592 (4.7%) had drug therapy costs exceeding 2000 CHF over a six-month period from July 1 to December 31, 2002. This threshold limit was set to identify high-risk patients for DRPs and EPs. Three pharmacists consecutively conducted a medication review based on the pharmaceutical charts of 125 sampled patients who met the inclusion criterion. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The PPV of a threshold of 2000 CHF for identifying patients who might benefit from a MR: true positives were patients with at least one DRP, while false positives were patients with no DRP. RESULTS: The selection based on this criterion had a PPV of 86% for detecting patients with at least one DRP and 95% if EPs were also considered. There was a mean of 2.64 (SD = 2.20) DRPs per patient and a mean of 2.14 (SD = 1.39) EPs per patient. Of these patients, 90% were over 65 years old or were treated with at least five chronic medications, two common criteria for identifying patients at risk of DRPs. The main types of DRPs were drug-drug interactions, compliance problems and duplicate drugs. Mean daily drug cost per patient was CHF 14.87 (US$10.70, 10.10). A potential savings of CHF 1.67 (US$1.20, 1.14) per day (11%) was estimated if all recommendations to solve DRPs and EPs suggested herein were implemented. CONCLUSION: Further studies should investigate whether the potential benefit of medication reviews in preventing DRPs and containing costs in this patient group can be confirmed in a real practice environment.