Characteristics of Critical Care Pharmacy Services in Saudi Arabia

Critical care pharmacists (CCPs) in intensive care units (ICUs) are associated with improved patient outcomes, reduced adverse events (ADEs), and reduced mortality rates. This study aimed to describe the activities and pharmacy services provided by CCP in ICUs in hospitals in Saudi Arabia (SA).

In this cross-sectional prospective study, a questionnaire was electronically sent to CCPs practicing in SA between September 2022 and January 2023. A modified version of a previously published and validated survey was sent to the Saudi Critical Care and Emergency Specialty Network. The questionnaire focused on four CCP activities: clinical, educational, scholarly, and administrative. The level of services was similarly classified into three domains: fundamental, optimal, and desirable. The responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

The study surveyed 44 CCPs in SA, with a response rate of 52.3%. These CCPs were predominantly located in the central (47.8%) and eastern (30.4%) regions. Hospitals' ICU bed capacity ranged from 10 to 100, with 82% reporting mixed medical and surgical ICUs. Most CCPs had 4-10 years of critical care experience, and 60% held advanced degrees, with a substantial portion having completed PGY-1 and PGY-2 pharmacy residencies. CCPs were actively involved in patient care, with 86.9% participating in multidisciplinary rounds five days a week. They were engaged in clinical, educational, and administrative activities, with 82.6% involved in retrospective research and educational activities. Furthermore, 78.2% were engaged in pharmacy and therapeutic committees, 56.5% in critical care committees, and 56.5% in pharmacy department policy development.

The study reveals that CCPs in SA play integral roles in ICU patient care and contribute significantly to clinical, educational, and administrative activities. The study highlights the need for standardized CCP-to-patient ratios and further support for CCPs to expand their services, thus contributing to enhanced healthcare quality.