Analysis of Questions on Out-of-hospital Prescriptions Related to Laboratory Data

Abstract

We have disclosed 14 standardized laboratory data on out-of-hospital prescriptions since June 2015. In this study, we analyzed questions on out-of-hospital prescriptions related to laboratory data over 2 years. There were 229 prescription questions related to laboratory data (3.4％ of the total prescription questions), and 79.5％ of these were related to renal function. Among renal function-associated laboratory data, serum creatinine was used in most cases. The rate of prescription change after prescription questions was 66.5％ for laboratory data associated with renal function, which was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than the 25.5％ for other types of data. Furthermore, the clear description of dose reduction requirements on a package insert was confirmed to be one of the common factors for renal excretory drugs. Therefore, it is important to provide renal function laboratory data to facilitate the appropriate adjustment of out-of-hospital prescription doses. In addition, to enable appropriate dose adjustments using laboratory data, the description on the drug package insert should make it easy for pharmacists who are auditing prescriptions to make appropriate judgments.