Abstract
The purposes of the present study were to analyze medication-related data stored in a database to reduce risks associated with the use of medicines brought to hospital by inpatients and to evaluate the effect of pharmacists’real-time checking of patient medication.
Pharmacists interviewed patients concerning medicines they brought with them at the time of hospitalization in the Maxillo-Facial and Oral Surgery Departments of Tohoku University Hospital.The data obtained and additional information,such as that on contra-indications and adverse effects stemming from interactions of the medicines with food,were input to a computer database,and immediately made available to other medical staff.Between May 2005 and February 2006,nearly 50% of medicines brought by inpatients were for cardiovascular disorders,gastrointestinal problems and central nervous system disorders (19%,16% and 15%,respectively).Further,53% of them required caution to avoid interactions with drugs administered after hospitalization.
Although numerous papers on pharmacist checking systems for medicines brought by inpatients have been published,little information of this type is available to medical staff,in particular to doctors.In the present study,we conducted a questionnaire survey of doctors and nurses to evaluate the necessity of pharmacists doing this kind of checking.The results showed that almost all of the medical staff surveyed felt that such checking by pharmacists was useful because the advice they gave prevented dangerous interactions with other medication given during hospitalization.The findings of the present study suggest that pharmacist management of medicines brought to hospital by patients is essential for ensuring their safety.
