Assessment of drug therapy problems (DTPS) in out-patient pharmacy prescriptions at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi
Isimmeme O. Sawyerr, Olumide I. Soyemi, Muinat O. Abubakar, Olamide E. Osoba, Olubukola A. Lumor, Adebisi I. Bankole
Department of Pharmacy, National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria
Corresponding Author: Olumide Soyemi
E-mail: isaacolumide@yahoo.com Phone: +234 803 4977 903
ABSTRACT
Background: Pharmaceutical care is a philosophy and model of pharmacy practice and Drug Therapy Problems (DTPs) are the heart and soul of pharmaceutical care.
Objectives: To determine the drug therapy problems identified and corresponding pharmaceutical care interventions carried out at the out -patient pharmacy unit as well as the drug therapy problem and pharmaceutical care intervention with the highest frequency.
Methods: A Drug Therapy Problem assessment/intervention form which was designed by the Out Patient Pharmacy Department was used for the purpose of this research. Drug therapy problems encountered over a five month period were assessed and the appropriate intervention carried out and documented in the form. A total of 50 drug therapy problems were encountered during the research period on the basis of documentation of each drug therapy problem as it is encountered. Filled drug therapy problem assessment/intervention forms were analyzed using descriptive statistics with the aid of Epi-info version 3.5.1 statistical package.
Results: An analysis of the drug therapy problems revealed that drug interaction accounted for the highest number of drug therapy problems of 14(28%) while non adherence accounted for the lowest number of drug therapy problems of 1(2%), while the remaining classes of drug therapy problems ranges between these values; dosage too high 9(18%),dosage too low 8(16%), Adverse Drug Reaction/Adverse Drug Event 4(8%), Wrong Drug 8(16%), unnecessary drug therapy 10(20%).
Conclusion: Drug interaction accounted for a simple majority of the drug therapy problems, while non-adherence was the least common of the drug therapy problems and instructions on how drugs are to be used as well as change of dosage were the major pharmaceutical care interventions.
Keywords: Pharmaceutical care, Drug Therapy Problems, Interventions