Article Text
Abstract
Background The pharmaceutical care programmes are effective strategies to improve the health outcomes in chronic patients, particularly in solid organ transplant patients, due to the complexity of immunosuppressive therapy. The pharmaceutical care consists of pharmacoterapeutic follow-up, information and education for patients, conciliation and improvement in therapeutic compliance. It is a necessary tool to collect all pharmaceutical activities performed and permits the measurement of these interventions.
Purpose To develop a tool for the application and standardisation of the pharmaceutical care of transplant patients.
Material and methods To develop the application, the following data and bibliography were reviewed: demographic, clinical and laboratory data patients; questionnaire for the selection of chronic patients developed by the Spanish Society of Hospital Pharmacists; number of visits completed (face-to-face visits and telephone); activity schedule; registration of drug-related problems detected on visits; database preservation; creating an informative newsletter and planning schedule; assessment of adherence by SMAQ-questionnaire; survey to measure patient satisfaction; preparation of reports for export to electronic medical records; and indicators for monitoring all this activity.
Results Electronic software was developed using Mirosoft Access® and implemented. A first visit was made to all transplant patients that the physician requested, and the pharmacist carried out a consultation. In this visit the treatment was explained and the agreed documentation was delivered. At discharge, a new visit was arranged, where an informative newsletter and planning schedule was delivered and doubts were resolved. One week after discharge, all patients were telephoned to complete a survey on the training level, adherence and satisfaction. This application collected all visits completed (first visits, visits at discharge, telephonic interview, outpatients visits) and the relevant aspects for pharmaceutical care for transplant patients (demographic and clinical data, treatment, drug-related problems detected, SMAQ questionnaire). This information was exported to electronic medical records for the communication between health professionals. Since September 2015 when it was carried out, 556 patients were included in this programme: 61 (11%) heart transplant; 180 (32%) liver transplant, 221 (40%) kidney transplant; 18 (3%) pancreatic-renal transplant and 76 (14%) lung transplant.
Conclusion The development of this easy-to-use-tool has permitted an elaborate informative newsletter and personalised planning schedule with the treatment prescribed at discharge, and monitors activity indicators ensuring the traceability of pharmaceutical care to transplant patients.
No conflict of interest