Article Text
Abstract
Background and Importance Transitions of care, such as from hospital to community settings, are often associated with changes in medication regimens, and patients are therefore at risk of drug-related problems (DRPs).1 Medication reconciliation by clinical pharmacists aims to reduce DRPs and thus improve patient safety.
Aim and Objectives We aimed to identify drug classes most susceptible to DRPs and to quantify the proportion of DRPs originating from transition of care (admission or discharge). This could support clinical pharmacists in more targeted medication reconciliation.
Material and Methods Medication reconciliation was performed by clinical pharmacists in a regional hospital for patients discharged from internal medicine, surgical, orthopaedic, and gynaecological wards. For each identified DRP, the involved drug class (ATC code) and its origin (transition of care, or other origin, such as prior to or during hospitalisation) were systematically documented. For this descriptive observational study, we analysed data over 3.5 years to calculate the frequency of DRPs of specific drug classes and their origins.
Results Between January 2019 and June 2023, a total of 25,298 medication reconciliations were performed, DRPs were documented for 3,401 discharges with a prevalence of 13.4%. The five drug classes most often related to DRPs were cardiovascular agents with 836 records (18.2%), gastrointestinal tract drugs with 751 records (16.3%), analgesics with 615 records (13.4%), antithrombotic drugs with 470 records (10.2%), and anti-infectives with 390 records (8.5%). Other drug classes accounted for fewer DRPs.
78.8% of DRPs involving cardiovascular agents originated from a transition of care, along with 56.7% for anti-infectives, 52.3% for antithrombotic agents, 51.9% for gastrointestinal tract drugs and, 49.3% for analgesics.
Conclusion and Relevance We identified a set of drug classes commonly related to DRPs. Furthermore, we observed that most of the DRPs originated from a transition of care. This study emphasises the importance of medication reconciliation during transitions of care and identifies which drug classes should be focused on.
References and/or Acknowledgements 1. Fatema A Alqenae, et al. Prevalence and nature of medication errors and medication-related harm following discharge from hospital to community settings: a systematic review. Drug Safety. 2020;43:517–537.
Conflict of Interest No conflict of interest.