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Risk factors for drug therapy problems among Cambodian Americans with complex needs: a cross-sectional, observational
Julie A Wagner1, Angela Bermudez-Millan2, S Megan Berthold3
1Behavioral Sciences and Community Health, University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA.
Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine
|January 28, 2022
Summary
Patient-level factors like marital status and depression impact drug therapy problems (DTPs). Prioritizing vulnerable patients with pharmacist and community health worker (CHW) teams can help identify DTPs.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Public Health
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Drug therapy problems (DTPs) represent a significant public health concern.
- Understanding patient-specific risk factors is crucial for mitigating DTPs, particularly in vulnerable populations.
- This study focused on identifying DTP risk factors among Cambodian Americans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine patient-level risk factors associated with drug therapy problems (DTPs).
- To identify specific types of DTPs (appropriateness, effectiveness, safety, adherence) and their predictors.
- To inform targeted interventions for reducing DTPs in the Cambodian American community.
Main Methods:
- Surveys were administered verbally by community health workers (CHWs) to participants.
- A detailed medication review form was completed for each participant.
- A doctoral-level pharmacist reviewed the forms with patients and CHWs to identify and categorize DTPs.
Main Results:
- Participants (n=63) had an average age of 55, with limited formal education and predominantly spoke Khmer at home.
- High percentages of participants experienced DTPs: 64% for safety, 45% for appropriateness, 30% for adherence, and 25% for effectiveness, averaging 3.7 DTPs per patient.
- Being married was associated with fewer total DTPs (IRR=0.70), while depression increased total DTPs (IRR=1.26) when controlling for medication count.
Conclusions:
- Patient characteristics significantly predict different types of DTPs.
- Vulnerable patients, identified through factors like depression, should be prioritized for interventions.
- Collaborative pharmacist and CHW teams are effective in identifying DTPs in diverse patient populations.
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