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Drug-use evaluation programs in short-term-care general hospitals
A K Terry1, J R Draugalis, J L Bootman
1Pharmacy Service, Keller Army Community Hospital, West Point, NY 10996-1197.
American Journal of Hospital Pharmacy
|May 1, 1993
Summary
Pharmacists actively participate in drug-use evaluation (DUE) programs in U.S. hospitals, but program effectiveness is rated as moderate. Enhancing pharmacist roles and assessing DUE impact are crucial.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacy Practice
- Health Services Research
- Drug Utilization
Background:
- Drug-use evaluation (DUE) programs are integral to optimizing medication therapy in healthcare settings.
- Assessing the current landscape of DUE programs in U.S. hospitals is essential for identifying areas of strength and improvement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To survey and report on the characteristics of drug-use evaluation (DUE) programs in U.S. short-term-care general hospitals.
- To evaluate the extent of pharmacist involvement and their perceptions of DUE program effectiveness.
Main Methods:
- A national survey was conducted in February 1992 targeting pharmacy directors of 491 randomly selected U.S. short-term-care general hospitals with 100+ beds.
- Questionnaires collected data on hospital/pharmacy characteristics, DUE program specifics, and pharmacist perceptions.
- A response rate of 66.6% (327 usable replies) was achieved.
Main Results:
- Pharmacist involvement in DUE activities was high; two-thirds participated in all five ASHP-recommended activities.
- Pharmacists rated DUE program effectiveness as moderate but perceived their participation as highly important.
- Pharmacists were on 97.9% of DUE committees, though only 65.5% had voting privileges, dedicating an average of 11.27 hours weekly to DUE tasks.
Conclusions:
- Pharmacists are highly engaged in DUE committees and programs within U.S. short-term-care general hospitals.
- While pharmacist participation is valued, the overall effectiveness of current DUE programs requires further detailed assessment and potential enhancement.