Integrated Pharmacy Research and Practice最新文献

{"title":"Medication Counselling on Unlicensed Medicines Should Be Improved - Results from a Finnish Survey for Patients and Pharmacy Staff.","authors":"Tiina Liipo, Tuire Prami, Ilona Iso-Mustajärvi, Mari Pölkki, Anne Juppo","doi":"10.2147/IPRP.S481732","DOIUrl":"10.2147/IPRP.S481732","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Finnish authorities have published specific instructions for prescribing, handling, and dispensing unlicensed medicines and for the associated communication with patients. However, there is a clear research gap concerning the quality of medication counselling given by doctors and especially pharmacists to patients who are prescribed unlicensed medicines. The success of such counselling was studied with a survey for both pharmacy staff and patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The survey was conducted in 2022 with two electronic semi-structured questionnaires, one for patients (or caregivers of underaged patients) purchasing medicines with special or fixed-term special permits from community pharmacies in Finland and one for the pharmacy staff dispensing such medication.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In all, 49% of the 389 pharmacists did not know if the prescribing doctor had given any counselling to the patient, and 52% of the pharmacists had not given any counselling to the patient themselves. Still, 51% of the pharmacists considered that the patient had received sufficient medication counselling. Almost every one of the 36 patients expressed that they had received medication counselling, 61% of them from the prescribing doctor and 53% from a pharmacist.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Medication counselling on unlicensed medicines should be improved to ensure their safe and effective use. This survey revealed that many patients did not receive any such medication counselling as required by the Finnish Medicines Decree.</p>","PeriodicalId":45655,"journal":{"name":"Integrated Pharmacy Research and Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11526731/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142559094","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Geographical Disparities in the Distribution of Community Pharmacies Providing Aseptic Preparation Services in Japan.","authors":"Kazuya Nonomura, Kazuya Toyama, Yufu Kondo, Hirofumi Tamaki, Arihiro Osanai, Yoko Ino, Mitsuhiro Nakamura, Kazuhiro Iguchi","doi":"10.2147/IPRP.S479164","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/IPRP.S479164","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Providing medical, nursing, and welfare services in each community is becoming increasingly important as population ages in Japan, and the demand for aseptic preparation in community pharmacies is expected to increase. In this study, the disparity in the distribution of community pharmacies providing aseptic preparation services were examined to explore how the unequal distribution of the pharmacies can be improved in the future.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The regional inequality of community pharmacies providing aseptic preparation services was evaluated using Gini coefficients. The regional distribution was evaluated using a geographic information system application.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Only 8.0% of all insurance community pharmacies in Japan provided aseptic preparation services. The Gini coefficient of pharmacies providing aseptic preparation services for the total population of each municipality was 0.410. The population coverage, within 16 km of pharmacies providing aseptic preparation services, was 96.5% of the total population. The residential grid coverage, within 16 km of the pharmacies, was 75.2% of the total network, approximately one quarter not covered. It is estimated that the coverage ratios will improve by some percentage by 2050, although the projected population in 2050 is expected to decrease by approximately 20%.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The current number and distribution of pharmacies providing aseptic preparation services are inadequate, and measures need to be taken to avoid future problems.</p>","PeriodicalId":45655,"journal":{"name":"Integrated Pharmacy Research and Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11460271/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142394136","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Telepharmacy versus Face-to-Face Approach in Providing Inhaler Technique Training Service: A Non-Inferiority Assessment Among German Pharmacy Students.","authors":"Bushra Ali Sherazi, Shahzad Ahmad Sayyed, Kathrin Möllenhoff, Stephanie Läer","doi":"10.2147/IPRP.S468881","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/IPRP.S468881","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The use of telepharmacy in delivering pharmaceutical care services has grown in the past few years; however, there are perceptions of its inappropriateness for providing medical device training among pharmacy students and practicing pharmacists.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The primary objective of this study was to determine if the telepharmacy approach for providing inhaler technique training service was non-inferior to the face-to-face approach regarding pharmacy students' performance in simulated patient encounters. Secondary objectives were to determine students' self-assessment of their ability to demonstrate and practice inhaler technique between the two modes of communication and their perceptions of telepharmacy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A randomized crossover non-inferiority trial was conducted among undergraduate pharmacy students. Outcomes were measured by comparing Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) scores of participants' performance between two modes of communication while providing inhaler technique training service. Moreover, the participants also completed self-assessment and perception questionnaires.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The telepharmacy approach was non-inferior to the face-to-face approach for demonstrating and practicing the correct inhaler technique based on OSCE scores and a predefined non-inferiority margin of -10%. The results also revealed no significant differences in student self-confidence between the two modes of communication. Moreover, participants had a largely positive perception of telepharmacy and its use in providing inhaler technique training service.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Considering our findings, telepharmacy is a viable alternative to traditional face-to-face consultations for providing inhaler technique training service. However, to address perceived difficulties and differences between virtual and face-to-face consultations, the pharmacy curriculum should include more telepharmacy-related didactic content with experiential learning and simulations.</p>","PeriodicalId":45655,"journal":{"name":"Integrated Pharmacy Research and Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2024-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11421451/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142356075","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Determinants of Patient Satisfaction with Discharge Pharmacy Services at a Tertiary Care Center in Jeddah, KSA.","authors":"Abdullah M Alzahrani, Razan Rambo, Fahad Alotain, Anjum Naeem, Rami M Alzhrani, Mohammad A Albaradi, Shoeb Althubiani, Shahd E Sharaf, Ali F Alwadie, Mohammad S Alzahrani, Noor T AlSebaih, Randa H Ainosah, Yahya A Alzahrani","doi":"10.2147/IPRP.S477216","DOIUrl":"10.2147/IPRP.S477216","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Patient satisfaction with pharmacy services, particularly in outpatient and discharge pharmacy settings, has become a vital metric for assessing medical quality. However, there's limited research on patient satisfaction in discharge pharmacy services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). This study aims to systematically investigate and delineate the various patient-related and non-patient-related factors that significantly impact patient satisfaction in the realm of discharge pharmacy services.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study was conducted over three months at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Jeddah (KAMC-J). The sample size was determined using a single population proportion formula, which resulted in a required sample size of 384 patients. A validated questionnaire with a five-point Likert scale evaluated satisfaction from \"Strongly Dissatisfied\" (1 point) to \"Very Satisfied\" (5 points) has been used. Data collectors underwent training and obtained written consent from participants, with questionnaire completion taking 5-10 minutes face to face.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study encompassed 437 participants, primarily male (59%) with a college education (45.3%), residing mostly in Jeddah (67.3%). Notably, 84.4% were not healthcare providers, and most visited the pharmacy every six months (44.6%). The patient satisfaction survey revealed high scores for counseling understanding, pharmacist courtesy, and the way the pharmacist answered questions (4.94±0.31, 4.94±0.27, 4.94±0.32; respectively), but lower for understanding possible side effects (4.30±1.30) and pharmacy location (4.57±0.99). In logistic regression, visits lasting 10-15 minutes, and less than 10 minutes were significantly (p<0.05) associated with increased odds of patient satisfaction (OR=6.39, OR=9.45; respectively) Moreover, the medium length hospital stay was associated with decreased odds of patient satisfaction (OR=0.31, p=0.026).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In conclusion, the study determined a significant proportion of patients are satisfied with discharge pharmacy services at KAMC-J, with the length of consultation and hospital stay being pivotal to their satisfaction. Addressing these factors, alongside optimizing pharmacist-patient communication and pharmacy service efficiency, can substantially elevate the quality of pharmaceutical care and patient experience.</p>","PeriodicalId":45655,"journal":{"name":"Integrated Pharmacy Research and Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2024-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11416770/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142298191","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advancing Pharmacy Practice: The Role of Intelligence-Driven Pharmacy Practice and the Emergence of Pharmacointelligence.","authors":"Najmaddin A H Hatem","doi":"10.2147/IPRP.S466748","DOIUrl":"10.2147/IPRP.S466748","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The field of healthcare is experiencing a significant transformation driven by technological advancements, scientific breakthroughs, and a focus on personalized patient care. At the forefront of this evolution is artificial intelligence-driven pharmacy practice (IDPP), which integrates data science and technology to enhance pharmacists' capabilities. This prospective article introduces the concept of \"pharmacointelligence\", a paradigm shift that synergizes artificial intelligence (AI), data integration, clinical decision support systems (CDSS), and pharmacy informatics to optimize medication-related processes. Through a comprehensive literature review and analysis, this research highlights the potential of pharmacointelligence to revolutionize pharmacy practice by addressing the complexity of pharmaceutical data, changing healthcare demands, and technological advancements. This article identifies the critical need for integrating these technologies to enhance medication management, improve patient outcomes, and streamline pharmacy operations. It also underscores the importance of regulatory and ethical considerations in implementing pharmacointelligence, ensuring patient privacy, data security, and equitable healthcare delivery.</p>","PeriodicalId":45655,"journal":{"name":"Integrated Pharmacy Research and Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2024-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11363916/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142113242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pharmaceutical Drug Promotion and Rational Drug Use: Assessment of Healthcare Workers Perspective.","authors":"Churchill Akena, Musa Ssemanda, Ahmed Hamed Saleh Abdelaziz, Edson Ireeta Munanura","doi":"10.2147/IPRP.S466004","DOIUrl":"10.2147/IPRP.S466004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Pharmaceutical drug promotion has the potential to improve rational drug use by creating awareness among healthcare workers and patients as well as increasing access to life-saving medicines. This study aimed to determine whether pharmaceutical drug promotion can improve rational drug use among healthcare workers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Semi-structured questionnaires were filled by selected dispensers and prescribers in central Uganda. Forms of pharmaceutical drug promotion, sources of drug information, and views on the influence of drug promotion on rational drug use were investigated. Associations amongst selected variables were tested at bivariate and multivariate levels.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 383 participants enrolled in the study, 49.6% were dispensers. More dispensers (49.0%, 92/188) favored 1 on 1 discussion whereas prescribers (32.0%, 61/191) preferred continuous medical education. Most dispensers (85.6%, 161/188) and prescribers (68.6%, 131/191) reported that drug promotion influences their choice of drug use, with most (dispensers: 85.1%, 160/188 vs prescribers: 72.3%, 1/191) admittedly relying on drug promotion as their primary source of drug information.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Pharmaceutical drug promotion influences prescription and dispensing practices among health workers, and it should be strictly regulated to ensure accurate and essential information for health workers while prioritizing rational use of medicines.</p>","PeriodicalId":45655,"journal":{"name":"Integrated Pharmacy Research and Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2024-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11330259/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142000973","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Outcomes of Community Pharmacy Interventions on Patients with Medicines Under Additional Monitoring.","authors":"Xabier Aizpurua-Arruti, Shalom Charlie I Benrimoj, Estibaliz Goyenechea, Arantxa Isla, Ainhoa Oñatibia-Astibia, Amaia Malet-Larrea, Miguel Ángel Gastelurrutia, Olatz Cuevas, Julen Rodríguez-Castejón, Saioa Domingo-Echaburu, María Ángeles Solinís, Montserrat García, Ana Del Pozo-Rodríguez","doi":"10.2147/IPRP.S466129","DOIUrl":"10.2147/IPRP.S466129","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Additional monitoring (AM) medicines include (i) medicines containing a new active substance; (ii) biological medicines; (iii) medicines with conditional approval or authorized in special situations; (iv) medicines which require further studies; (v) medicines that have specific requirements regarding the reporting of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs). When AM medicines are marketed, their most common ADRs are known, but safety information is limited because relatively rare ADRs are often not detected in clinical trials. Their AM status warrants real-world studies to identify other safety issues; however, such studies are lacking. Correct use and adherence to dosage regimen by patients are key factors for the evaluation of the safety and efficacy of medicines. The objective of this work was assessing the impact on safety, adherence, use and knowledge (U&K) about medicines and patient's quality of life (QOL), of community pharmacist (CP)-led interventions in a new service focused on AM medicines targeted at three prevalent chronic diseases: diabetes mellitus type 2, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cardiovascular disease.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>A prospective interventional cohort study was conducted with a 6-month follow-up in 27 community pharmacies (145 patients). Safety, adherence to treatment, patient U&K and QOL were assessed at follow-up visits (months 0, 3 and 6).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The number of detected ADRs was 163 with 41 patients referred to the doctor. At baseline, 24.1% of the patients were non-adherent, mainly due to unintentional causes. After six months and 130 interventions by CPs on adherence, a significant reduction to lower than 5.8% was achieved. The inadequate U&K of medicines also decreased, from 47.6% to 7.9% after 182 interventions. Also, the patient's QOL improved.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>A new patient-centered pharmacy service provides some evidence on the important role of CP in assisting the proper and safe use of AM medicines, improving patient health outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":45655,"journal":{"name":"Integrated Pharmacy Research and Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2024-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11296513/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141890432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pharmacy-Led Management of Atrial Fibrillation: Improving Treatment Adherence and Patient Outcomes.","authors":"Emma L Veale","doi":"10.2147/IPRP.S397844","DOIUrl":"10.2147/IPRP.S397844","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The world's population is ageing, with the number of those over 60 years expected to represent a fifth of the total population by 2050. Increases in chronic long-term health conditions (LTCs) associated with ageing, and requiring regular but often avoidable medical intervention, are pressurising already overloaded, health and social care systems. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an LTC, which is most frequently diagnosed in the elderly. An often, asymptomatic condition, AF is associated with a 3- to 5-fold increased risk of severe ischemic stroke. Stroke prevention, with risk-stratified oral anticoagulants (OACs) is the standard recommended care for patients with AF. Stroke avoidance is, however, dependent on persistent adherence to OAC medication, with an adherence rate of >80% considered necessary to achieve optimal health outcomes. Suboptimal adherence to OACs is common, with a third of all AF patients not taking their medication as prescribed. This combined with the short half-life of OACs can result in poor clinical outcomes for patients. Policy makers now consider improving adherence to prescribed medicines for LTCs, a public health priority, to ensure better health outcomes for patients, whilst minimising unnecessary health system costs. Prescribing medicines to treat LTCs, such as AF, is not enough, particularly when the patient may not experience any measurable benefit to the treatment and may instead, experience medication-associated adverse events, including a risk of bleeding. Pharmacists who are experts in medicines management are ideally placed to support medication adherence, to educate, and to improve health outcomes for patients with AF. In this review, I will consider the evidence for poor medication adherence in LTCs and in particular adherence to OACs in patients with AF and highlight the role that pharmacists can play in ensuring optimal adherence and showcase pharmacist-led interventions that effectively address this problem.</p>","PeriodicalId":45655,"journal":{"name":"Integrated Pharmacy Research and Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2024-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11297543/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141890433","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effectiveness of Clinical Pharmacists-Led Medication Reconciliation to Prevent Medication Discrepancies in Hospitalized Patients: A Non-Randomized Controlled Trial.","authors":"Maram M Elamin, Kannan O Ahmed, Mirghani Yousif","doi":"10.2147/IPRP.S467157","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/IPRP.S467157","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>Medication discrepancies are a major safety concern for hospitalized patients and healthcare professionals. Medication Reconciliation (MR) is a widely used tool in different practice settings to ensure the proper use of medications.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the clinical pharmacists-led MR process in identifying, preventing, and resolving medication discrepancies among hospitalized patients.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>This was a prospective study with an observational and interventional part, conducted at the Internal Medicine Department of a tertiary Hospital in Sudan from January to September 2023. The enrolled patients were divided into two groups, the observation group, in which the routine MR process was performed by doctors (usual care), and the intervention group, in which clinical pharmacists led the MR process.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared to the usual care, the clinical pharmacists were more efficient in identifying and preventing medication discrepancies (P=0.001). From a total of 1012 medications, clinical pharmacists' interventions contributed to the detection of (39%) equivalent to 2.2 discrepancies per patient, resolving 325 (83%) and preventing (55%) clinically significant discrepancies. Dose discrepancy (43%) was the most common type of identified discrepancies. These interventions were accepted by (98%) of doctors and implemented in (86%) of the total cases. The main predictors of medication discrepancies (P ≤0.05) for patients were the length of hospital stay, patient-hospital transfer, high number of medication histories, and increased number of medications used during hospitalization.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Through the implementation of the MR process, the clinical pharmacist's interventions substantially contributed to the detection and resolution of medication discrepancies among hospitalized patients. It is recommended that this intervention be disseminated in more hospitals in Sudan to encourage the implementation of appropriate practices.</p>","PeriodicalId":45655,"journal":{"name":"Integrated Pharmacy Research and Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2024-07-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11268761/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141761596","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Warfarin and Polypharmacy Challenges in Sudan: Drug Interactions in Patient Cohort.","authors":"Ahmed A A Omer, Abdal Mahmoud Elsiddig, Imad M Taj","doi":"10.2147/IPRP.S458827","DOIUrl":"10.2147/IPRP.S458827","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Warfarin plays an important role in anticoagulation therapy despite the availability of the newest oral anticoagulants, and achieving optimal anticoagulation is challenging due to its narrow therapeutic range and variable dose. This study aimed to highlight polypharmacy and drug interactions in patients receiving warfarin therapy at Medani Heart Centre, Sudan.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective hospital-based study was conducted from May 2017 to October 2018. Each concurrent medication prescribed for 104 patients was collected and checked for drug-drug interactions using Medscape Reference-Drug Interaction Checker. The data were analysed by using SPSS 20, and descriptive statistics were used.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results revealed that 95.2% of patients had more than three medications in their profile, (3-5), (6-9) and more than 10 medications were prescribed for 40.4%, 44.2% and 10.6% of patients, respectively. A total of 93.3% of patients had drug-drug interactions, as follows: (1-5), (6-10), (11-15), (16-20) and more than 20 drug-drug interactions were found in 31.7%, 32.7%, 19.2%, 5.8% and 3.8% of patients, respectively. A total of 178 warfarin-drug interactions were identified in 88.5% of the patients. The INR ranged between 2 and 2.99 in 13.4% of patients, and INR values below 2 and above 5 were found in 44.2% and 21.2% of patients, respectively. Analgesics (n=54; 30.3%), cardiovascular drugs (n=51; 28.6%), and anticoagulants (n=46; 25.8%) were the most common drug classes that interact with warfarin. Significant and serious types of interactions with warfarin were found in 51% and 37.5% of patients, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study highlights the complexity of managing warfarin therapy amid prevalent polypharmacy. A substantial majority of patients experienced multiple drug interactions. The identification of significant and serious interactions emphasizes the need for vigilant management strategies, including improved communication among healthcare professionals and targeted education for both providers and patients, to enhance the safety and efficacy of warfarin therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":45655,"journal":{"name":"Integrated Pharmacy Research and Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2024-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11214771/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141471483","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}