Pharmacist’s Intervention Activities for Drug-related Problems in a Community Pharmacy

Abstract

Community pharmacists have contributed to safe and effective drug treatment for patients by performing appropriate intervention activities to solve the drug-related problems (DRPs). This study aims to investigate the current status and evaluate interventions performed in community pharmacies. We evaluated DRP and pharmacist intervention activity (PIA) data obtained from a community pharmacy between August 9, 2021 and October 15, 2021 (10 weeks). Problems and causes of DRPs were classified according to Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe (PCNE) criteria, while PIAs were assessed by intervention types and conducted time-points. Economic outcomes from PIA were also estimated by cost avoidance and cost saving. During the ten-week period, a total of 6,576 prescriptions were submitted, and 754 cases of intervention were conducted. Among 754 PIA cases, 48.8% of them were performed via DUR alert, but 51.2% of PIAs were initiated via counseling or inspection by pharmacist without DUR alert. The acceptance rate of PIA by patients and prescription doctors reached to 93.4%. The net benefit cost converted to annual cost was estimated at ₩5,674,032. Various PIAs in community pharmacies run at various points from the moment the patient is prescribed to the end of treatment. To properly evaluate the clinical and cost-effective value for PIA of community pharmacy, constructing a database of information on DRPs and PIAs must be preceded.