Medication errors in critical patients during medication reconciliation: analyses and clinical management

Abstract Medication errors (ME) are frequent in the admission of patients to the ICU and can be identified and prevented through medication reconciliation (MR). Our aim was to evaluate the incidence, type and severity of MEs and associated factors, identified during MR in the ICU. This is a prospective, analytical approach, performed in the ICU of a private hospital, where the MRs were evaluated from April to June 2016. The SPSS and Stata programs were used to analyse the data. Logistic regression was performed to determine the factors associated with MEs. MR was performed with 136 patients, of whom 126 (92.6%) used drugs regularly. The incidence of MEs was 16.3% (95% CI 11.5-21.2). The main classes of drugs involved were those acting on the nervous and cardiovascular systems. There were 128 pharmaceutical interventions (acceptance: 71.1%). Regarding severity, 65.5% (n=80) of the errors reached the patient, but there was no harm. The risk factors for MEs identified were: age ≥60 years, number of comorbidities >1 and previous use of drugs ≥9. The incidence of MEs found and the significant association with age, comorbidities and polymedication alert to the need for specific attention to prevent admission errors in the most susceptible patient groups.

Medication adherence in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis / Adesão ao tratamento farmacológico em pacientes com artrite idiopática juvenil por meio de questionários

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate pharmacological treatment adherence of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, attended in an outpatient pharmacy at a tertiary hospital in northeastern Brazil. Methods: The analysis of adherence was performed along with caregivers, through a structured questionnaire based on Morisky, Green and Levine, which enabled the categorization of adherence in “highest”, “moderate” or “low” grades, and through evaluating medication dispensing registers, which classified the act of getting medications at the pharmacy as “regular” or “irregular”. Drug Related Problems (DRP) were identified through the narrative of caregivers and classified according to the Second Granada Consensus. Then, a pharmaceutical orientation chart with information about the therapeutic regimen was applied, in order to function as a guide for issues that influenced adherence. Results: A total of 43 patients was included, with a mean age of 11.12 years, and 65.1% (n = 28) were female. Applying the questionnaire, it was found “highest” adherence in 46.5% (n = 20) patients, “moderate” adherence in 48.8% (n = 21), and “low” adherence in 4.7% (n = 2). Through an analysis of the medication dispensing registers, a lower level of adherence was observed: only 25.6% (n = 11) of the participants received “regularly” the medications. Twenty-six DRP was identified, and 84.6% (n = 22) were classified as real. There were no significant associations between socio-demographic variables and adherence, although some caregivers have reported difficulty in accessing the medicines and in understanding the treatment. Conclusion: Our findings showed problems in the adherence process related to inattention, forgetfulness and irregularity in getting medicines, reinforcing the need for the development of strategies to facilitate a better understanding of treatment and to ensure adherence.

RESUMO Objetivo: Investigar a adesão ao tratamento farmacológico de pacientes com artrite idiopática juvenil, atendidos na farmácia ambulatorial de hospital terciário do Nordeste do Brasil. Métodos: A análise da adesão foi feita junto aos cuidadores, por meio de questionário estruturado com base no teste de Morisky, Green e Levine, que viabilizou a categorização da adesão em “máxima”, “moderada” ou “baixa”, e da avaliação dos registros de dispensação dos medicamentos, que classificou a retirada de medicamentos na farmácia como “regular” ou “irregular”. Os problemas relacionados com medicamentos (PRM) foram identificados por meio da narrativa dos cuidadores e classificados conforme o Segundo Consenso de Granada. Em seguida, aplicou-se uma tabela de orientação farmacêutica, que contém informações sobre o esquema terapêutico, de forma a esclarecer questões que influenciavam a adesão. Resultados: Participaram 43 pacientes, com média de 11,12 anos, 65,1%, (n = 28) do sexo feminino. Por meio do questionário, verificou-se adesão “máxima” em 46,5% (n = 20) dos pacientes, “moderada” em 48,8% (n = 21) e “baixa” em 4,7% (n = 2). Pelo registro de dispensação, observou-se um nível de adesão menor: apenas 25,6% (n = 11) dos participantes receberam os medicamentos “regularmente”. Identificaram-se 26 PRM, 84,6% (n = 22) classificados como “reais”. Não foram observadas associações significativas entre as variáveis sociodemográficas e a adesão, embora alguns cuidadores tenham relatado dificuldade de acesso ao medicamento e de compreensão do tratamento. Conclusão: Nossos achados demonstraram falhas no processo de adesão, relacionadas ao descuido, esquecimento e à irregularidade para receber os medicamentos, o que reforça a necessidade de estratégias para facilitar a compreensão do tratamento e garantir a adesão

Pharmaceutical orientation at hospital discharge of transplant patients: strategy for patient safety / Orientação farmacêutica na alta hospitalar de pacientes transplantados: estratégia para a segurança do paciente

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe and analyze the pharmaceutical orientation given at hospital discharge of transplant patients. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive and retrospective study that used records of orientation given by the clinical pharmacist in the inpatients unit of the Kidney and Liver Transplant Department, at Hospital Universitário Walter Cantídio, in the city of Fortaleza (CE), Brazil, from January to July, 2014. The following variables recorded at the Clinical Pharmacy Database were analyzed according to their significance and clinical outcomes: pharmaceutical orientation at hospital discharge, drug-related problems and negative outcomes associated with medication, and pharmaceutical interventions performed. Results: The first post-transplant hospital discharge involved the entire multidisciplinary team and the pharmacist was responsible for orienting about drug therapy. The mean hospital discharges/month with pharmaceutical orientation during the study period was 10.6±1.3, totaling 74 orientations. The prescribed drug therapy had a mean of 9.1±2.7 medications per patient. Fifty-nine drug-related problems were identified, in which 67.8% were related to non-prescription of medication needed, resulting in 89.8% of risk of negative outcomes associated with medications due to untreated health problems. The request for inclusion of drugs (66.1%) was the main intervention, and 49.2% of the medications had some action in the digestive tract or metabolism. All interventions were classified as appropriate, and 86.4% of them we able to prevent negative outcomes. Conclusion: Upon discharge of a transplanted patient, the orientation given by the clinical pharmacist together with the multidisciplinary team is important to avoid negative outcomes associated with drug therapy, assuring medication reconciliation and patient safety.

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever e analisar a orientação farmacêutica oferecida na alta de pacientes transplantados. Metódos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal, descritivo e retrospectivo, que utilizou os registros das orientações realizadas pelo farmacêutico clínico na unidade de internação do Serviço de Transplante Renal e Hepático, Hospital Universitário Walter Cantídio, em Fortaleza (CE), de janeiro a julho de 2014. Foram analisadas, de acordo com sua significância e desfechos clínicos obtidos, as seguintes variáveis registradas no Banco de Dados do Serviço de Farmácia Clínica: orientações farmacêuticas na alta, problemas e resultados negativos relacionados aos medicamentos, e intervenções farmacêuticas realizadas. Resultados: A primeira alta pós-transplante envolveu toda a equipe multiprofissional, sendo o farmacêutico responsável pela orientação do tratamento medicamentoso. A média de altas/mês com orientação farmacêutica no período do estudo foi de 10,6±1,3, totalizando 74 orientações. O tratamento clínico prescrito teve média de 9,1±2,7 medicamentos por paciente. Foram identificados 59 problemas relacionados aos medicamentos; 67,8% relacionaram-se com a não prescrição do medicamento necessário, acarretando 89,8% de risco de resultados negativos associados aos medicamentos por problema de saúde não tratado. A principal intervenção foi a solicitação de inclusão do medicamento (66,1%), e 49,2% dos medicamentos envolvidos agiam no aparelho digestivo/metabolismo. Todas as intervenções foram classificadas como apropriadas, e 86,4% foram capazes de prevenir o resultado negativo. Conclusão: A orientação do farmacêutico clínico junto à equipe multiprofissional no momento da alta do paciente transplantado é importante, pois previne resultados negativos associados à farmacoterapia, garantindo a conciliação medicamentosa e a segurança do paciente.