[Pharmaceutical care for drug-related problems in inpatients]

Drug therapy-induced high morbidity results in pharmacists participating in the prevention and solution of drug-related problems (DRPs).

To assess DRP prevalence amongst inpatients, and the clinical results derived from pharmaceutical intervention.

DRPs detected during 6 months at Hospital Comarcal de Sant Bernabé were recorded and classified, and their severity established. Pharmaceutical intervention was evaluated by using two codes: impact and clinical significance. Interventions were reassessed by another pharmacist and a physician, and the degree of agreement was calculated.

The prevalence of DRPs amongst inpatients was 10.8%. A total of 425 DRPs was detected, with a mean of 1.51 DRPs/patient. The highest percentage involved inappropriate drugs (26%), overdosing (22%), and inadequate dosing (22%). Eighty-four percent of DRPs were a severity level 2. Drugs mainly involved were antibiotics (21.6%), anti-ulcer agents (21.8%), and analgesic-anti-inflammatory compounds (8.1%). In all, 58% of interventions impacted on treatment effectiveness, and 42% on toxicity. Intervention acceptance was 91%. Seventy percent of interventions were appropriate and highly significant. The percentage of agreements in reassessments exceeded 88%.

Pharmaceutical care allows DRPs to be prevented and solved. Methodology validation makes it safer in daily practice.