Abstract

Research Article

Identification and resolution of drug therapy problems among hypertensive patients receiving care in a Nigerian Hospital - A pilot study

Blessing Onyinye Ukoha-kalu*, Maxwell Ogochukwu Adibe and Chinwe Victoria Ukwe

Published: 01 October, 2020 | Volume 4 - Issue 1 | Pages: 020-023

Background: An event involving drug therapy that actually or potentially interfers with the desired health outcomes is known as drug therapy problem.

Objective: The study aimed to identify and resolve potential drug related problems encountered among adult hypertensive patients receiving care in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital. Methods: This was a prospective cross sectional study. The data were collected from the patients’ medical records using the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe (PCNE) Classification tool Version 6.2 (PCNE, 2010). For each of the 171 medical records, the DTPs experienced within the study period were identified. Data were analyzed using the IBM Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) for Windows, Version 21.0 (IBM Corp, Version 21.0, and Armonk, NY, USA).

Results: Majority of the patients were above 65years of age 64(37.4%), while about half of the patients were females. A total of 644 drug therapy problems were identified. The major cause of DTP was prescribing error 189(29.3). Other causes of drug therapy problem identified in this study were inappropriate drug selection 122(18.9), no indication for drugs 52(8.1), inappropriate drug combination 87(13.6), new indication presented 61(9.5), dose too high 62(9.6), dose too low 44(6.8), wrong drug taken/administered 27(4.2). Majority of the interventions made were accepted 586(91.0%) while only 3(0.5%) of the interventions made were not accepted.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that a pharmacist, with adequate training and support can play a vital role in identifying and resolving drug therapy problems. Also, there is a need for an educational intervention among prescribing physicians to update them regularly on hypertension guidelines.

Read Full Article HTML DOI: 10.29328/journal.ach.1001024 Cite this Article Read Full Article PDF

References

  1. Aguwa CN, Nworu CS. Hypertension. In Aguwa CN, ed. Therapeutic basis of clinical pharmacy in the tropics. 4th ed. Enugu, Nigeria: Snaap press ltd; 2012; 88-90.
  2. Andros V, Egger A, Dua U. Blood pressure goal attainment according to JNC 7 guidelines and utilization of antihypertensive drug therapy in MCO patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. J Manag Care Pharm. 2002; 12: 303-309. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16792436/
  3. Beckett NS, Peters R, Fletcher AE, Staessen JA, Liu L, et al. Treatment of hypertension in patients 80 years of age or older. N Engl J Med. 2008; 358: 1887. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18378519/
  4. Gudina EK, Michael Y, Assegid S. Prevalence of hypertension and its risk factors in southwest Ethiopia: a hospital-based cross-sectional survey. Integr Blood Press Control. 2013; 6: 111-117. PubMed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3753877/
  5. Gobezie T, Belay Y. Drug therapy problem among patients with cardiovascular disease in Felege Hiwot referral hospital, NE, Ethiopia. Int J Pharmacy Teaching Practice. 2014; 5: 989-996
  6. Katzung BG, Trevor AJ. Basic and clinical pharmacology. United States of America, McGraw-Hill. Chapter 11: antihypertensive agents. 2015; 169-187.
  7. Likisa J, Woldu MA, Dinba J. Assessment of drug related problem among hypertensive patients on follow up in adama hospital medical college. East Ethiopia. 2014; 19: 201-209.
  8. Mahmud MA. Drug therapy problems and quality of life in patients with chronic kidney disease. Int J Res Med Sci. 2013; 1: 74-85.
  9. Mandavi, D’Cruz S, Sachdev A, Tiwari P. Adverse drug reactions & their risk factors among Indian ambulatory elderly patients. Indian J Med Res. 2012; 136: 404-410. PubMed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3510886/
  10. Perterson C. Characterization of drug related problem and associated factors at clinical pharmacy-naïve hospital in northern part of Sweden. 2017. e834a1c612f7469116a649b902ef5674436a.pdf
  11. Rosendorff C, Black HR, Cannon CP, Gersh BJ, Gore J, et al. Treatment of hypertension in the prevention and management of ischemic heart disease: a scientific statement from the America Heart Association Council for High Blood Pressure Research and the Councils on Clinical Cardiology and Epidemiology and Prevention. Circulation. 115: 2761-2788. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17502569/
  12. Redzuan AM, Ramali AR, Pheng MT. Drug related problem hypertensive patients with comomobidities. 2017. 20: 411-419.
  13. Trevisol D, Moreira L, Fuchus F, Fuchss: Hrqol Is Worse In Individuals With Hypertension Under Drug Treatment: Results Of Population Based Study. J H Hyperten. 2003.
  14. Van den Bemt PM, de Jong-van den Berg LT. Drug-related problems in hospitalized patients. Drug Safety. 2014; 22: 321-333. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10789826/
  15. Yone De Almeida. Drug related problems observed in pharmaceutical care service in belo horizonte, Brazil. Bra J Pharmaceut Sci. 45: 2009.

Similar Articles

Recently Viewed

Read More

Most Viewed

Read More

Help ?