Drug-related problems among patients with infectious disease admitted to medical wards of Wollega University Referral Hospital: Prospective observational study

Abstract

Introduction: Drug-related problems can affect the treatment outcomes of hospitalized patients and outpatients that lead to morbidity and mortality. Despite this, there were scanty of studies among patients with infectious diseases in Ethiopia. As the result, this study was tried to assess the magnitude and determinants of drug therapy problems among infectious disease patients admitted to the medical wards of Wollega University Referral Hospital. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted from May to August 2019. The prevalence and types of drug- related therapy problems were studied using the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe Foundation classification system, and adverse drug reaction was assessed by using the Naranjo algorithm. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to determine the predictors of drug-related problems, and a significant association was declared if p-value < 0.05. Result: Of the 172 study participants, 106 (61.6%) were males, and the patient’s mean age was 39.1 ± 14.31 years. Over the study period, 123 (71.51%) patients had drug-related problems. Need for additional drug therapy was the widely occurred drug-related problem that accounts for 107 (22.77%), and the most common drug-associated with the drug therapy problem was ceftriaxone (77 (44.77%)). This inappropriate use of ceftriaxone might be due to the preference of physicians to prescribe this broad spectrum antibiotic in which it was prescribed for the majority of the infectious disease etiology. Polypharmacy (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.505, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.863–11.131), length of hospital stay ⩾ 7 days (AOR = 4.396, 95% CI: 1.964–7.310), and presence of co-morbidity (AOR = 2.107, 95% CI: 1.185–4.158, p = 0.016) were determinants of drug-related problems. Conclusion: The magnitude of drug-related problems was found to be high. Hence, the clinical pharmacy service should be established to tackle inappropriate indications, ineffective drug therapy, and adverse drug events in the study area.

Non-Adherence to Antiepileptic Drugs and Associated Factors among Epileptic Patients at Ambulatory Clinic of Southwestern Ethiopian Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…8 As a result, identifying characteristics that contribute to non-adherence is critical for improving epileptic patient outcomes. 20 When compared to patients who had not encountered the side effects, those who had experienced the side effects were 2 times more likely to be non-adherent to the AEDS (AOR = 2.199; 95% CI: 1.21, 4.00, P = 0.010). This was supported by the Sudan, 19 Dessie Referral Hospital, 5 and Belayneh Z et al, 2020 comprehensive and meta-analysis.…”

“… 8 As a result, identifying characteristics that contribute to non-adherence is critical for improving epileptic patient outcomes. 20 …”

Pneumonia: Drug-Related Problems and Hospital Readmissions

“…Causes of DRPs can be related to inappropriate drug selection, inappropriate dosage, duration of use of medication longer or shorter than recommended, incorrect drug use processes, or poor compliance, all resulting in decreased treatment effectiveness and increased morbidity and mortality [7][8][9]. In Ethiopia, the proportion of patients hospitalized for infectious diseases, and who also had DRPs, was 71.51% (123/172); of these, the unnecessary broad-spectrum antibiotic option ceftriaxone accounted for 44.77% [10]. Similarly, in a study in Spain, almost half (45.1%) of hospitalized patients suffered from DRPs [11].…”

Adherence to Adjuvant Hormonal Therapy and Associated Factors Among Women with Breast Cancer [Letter]

“…This is similar to the study of Bekele et al in which poly-pharmacy and the presence of comorbidity were predictors of non-adherence. 7 Therefore, special attention should be given to patients having co-morbidity.…”