EVALUATION AND MONITORING OF MEDICATION ERRORS AND DRUG RELATED PROBLEMS FROM ORAL INHALER DRUGS IN PATIENTS WITH ASTHMA AND CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE AT SAWANPRACHARAK HOSPITAL

Authors

  • Suphansa Saovapakpusit Clinical Pharmacy Unit, Department of Pharmacy, Sawanpracharak Hospital, Nakhon Sawan
  • Chantanee Chatviriyawong Clinical Pharmacy Unit, Department of Pharmacy, Sawanpracharak Hospital, Nakhon Sawan
  • Perayot Pamonsinlapatham Department of Health Informatics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Silpakorn University, Sanamchandra Palace Campus, Nakhon Pathom

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14456/tbps.2020.3

Keywords:

asthma, COPD, drug related problems (DRP), medication errors (ME), oral inhaler drugs, pharmaceutical care

Abstract

The management of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) requires continuous medication and a proper inhaler drug.  A lack of knowledge and skill by numerous patients needed to operate the device is a significant hindrance to effective disease management. Pharmacists, therefore, have an important role to assess, follow up, and advise correct and continuous inhaler use, thus reducing medication errors as well as preventing and resolving drug utilization problems. In this study, data were collected prospectively. Pharmacists evaluated and followed up on-inhalation problems of 46 males with asthma and COPD while admitted to Sawanpracharak Hospital from March to June 2019. Objectives were to assess and solve drug-related problems and medication errors and compare the correct use of inhalation devices before and after receiving guidance from pharmacists’. 8 medication errors were detected and all were corrected by pharmacists. Additionally, 8 drug-related problems were detected and 7 were solved. The assessment of patients’ inhaler device handling techniques in percentages before and after (shown in brackets, respectively) receiving pharmacists’ guidance on the following topics were 1)  dosage (52.18% and 82.61%), 2) proper device handling (41.30% and 95.65%), 3) oral cleansing after inhalation (80.43 and 97.83%), and 4) determining the remaining dosage (56.52% and 100.00%). All comparisons were statistically significant (p<0.01). Therefore, continuous evaluation and monitoring by pharmacists helps patients to correctly use inhaler devices, reducing both medication errors and drug related problems.

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Published

2020-01-31

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Original Research Articles