Results of a clinical audit on drug‐related problems identified by a clinical pharmacist in a thoracic outpatient clinic

Abstract

Aim To identify the types and severity of drug‐related problems (DRPs) identified by a pharmacist in a thoracic outpatient clinic. Methods A clinical pharmacist reviewed patients in a thoracic outpatient clinic weekly for 17 weeks where medication history interview and pharmaceutical review were undertaken on available patients. DRPs identified were communicated to the treating respiratory physician or registrar and patient. DRPs were reviewed retrospectively by an independent specialist thoracic pharmacist and a consultant thoracic physician. The DRPs were classified according to the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe Classification V 6.2 and whether respiratory or non‐respiratory related. Results A total of 97 DRPs were identified in 66 patients reviewed; an average of 1.47 DRPs per patient; 50 were non‐respiratory related and 47 respiratory related. The most common DRP was ‘effect of drug treatment not optimal’ (n = 35, 36%) followed by ‘non‐allergic adverse drug event’ (n = 23, 23.7%) and ‘untreated indication’ (n = 23, 23.7%). The most common pharmaceutical intervention performed was ‘patient (medication) counselling’. A total of 37% (n = 36) DRPs were deemed to be high or extremely high risk by an independent pharmacist and 44% (n = 43) high risk by a consultant thoracic physician. Conclusion There is a potential role for pharmacists in a specialist thoracic outpatient clinic as pharmacist attendance allowed respiratory and non‐respiratory DRPs to be identified and interventions proposed. A large number of DRPs were deemed to be high or extremely high risk. Pharmacist attendance also provides an opportunity for patient education and counselling.