Evaluation of pharmacist‐based interventions to optimise utilisation of parenteral paracetamol in a teaching hospital in Iran

Abstract

This study clarified the effect of pharmacist‐led interventions to decrease the cost and inappropriate prescribing of parenteral paracetamol (PP). The prescribing pattern of PP was assessed at baseline and after pharmacist‐led interventions (educational and protocol interventions) in a teaching hospital in Tehran, Iran. Comparison of appropriate dosage form between baseline and postintervention assessments indicated a significant difference (55.6% vs 77.6%, respectively; p < 0.001). Educational intervention significantly improved the appropriate duration of PP administration from baseline to postintervention (29% vs 41.7%, respectively; p = 0.006), but had no significant effect on the appropriateness of dosing. The mean monthly number of vials used decreased considerably following the educational and protocol interventions (25% (p = 0.002) and 59% (p < 0.001) reductions, respectively). Thus, incorporating educational and protocol interventions could promote the appropriate prescription and rational use of PP and aid in reducing its financial burden.

The impact of clinical pharmacists’ intervention on the rational use of intravenous paracetamol vials in Baghdad Teaching Hospital: A case-control study

“…The result of this study confirms a previous study (Zeinab et al 2020). Another study that evaluated pharmacist-based interventions to optimize the utilization of IV paracetamol has demonstrated a reduction in the mean monthly number of vials following the pharmacist intervention by educational and protocol interventions (59% reductions) (Laali et al 2020).…”