Effect of clinical pharmacist intervention on the treatment of acute pancreatitis

Background The participation of clinical pharmacists in the treatment of acute pancreatitis has rarely been reported. Objective The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the impact of intervention of clinical pharmacists on the treatment of acute pancreatitis. Setting An academic teaching hospital in Taizhou, Jiangsu, China. Method Two hundred and twenty-eight patients with acute pancreatitis were retrospectively enrolled from July 2017 to July 2018 and divided into an intervention group (n = 119) and a control group (n = 109) according to whether a clinical pharmacist was involved. No significant differences in the baseline clinical characteristics were found between the groups. Clinical pharmacists participated in drug formulation and adjustment, pharmaceutical care, and follow-up. Main outcome measure Clinical outcomes, average hospital stays, costs, incidence of adverse drug reactions, 1-month subsequent visit rate, and patient satisfaction between the two groups were measured. Results The clinical symptoms of patients in both groups were relieved after treatment. There were no significant differences between the groups in computed tomography grades after treatment, incidence of adverse drug reactions, or average hospital stays. However, the intervention group had lower total costs of hospitalization, drugs and antibiotics but higher rates of 1-month subsequent visits and satisfaction compared with the control group. Conclusion The intervention of clinical pharmacists in the treatment of acute pancreatitis can effectively reduce costs of hospitalization, drug and antibiotics and improve follow-up compliance and patient satisfaction.