RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The increasing number of available drugs and drug users, as well as more complex drug regimens led to more side effects and drug interactions and complicates follow-up. The objective of this study was to assess drug-related problems (DRPs) and associated factors in hospitalized patients. METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional study design was employed. The study was conducted in Jimma University Specialized Hospital, Jimma, located in the south west of Addis Ababa. All patients who were admitted to the medical ward from February 2011 to March 2011 were included in the study. Data on sociodemographic variables, past medical history, drug history, current diagnosis, current medications, vital signs, and relevant laboratory data were collected using semi-structured questionnaire and data collection forms which were filling through patient interview and card review. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 for windows. Descriptive statistics, cross-tabs, Chi-square, and logistic regression were utilized. FINDINGS: Out of 257 study participants, 189 (73.5%) had DRPs and a total of 316 DRPs were identified. From the six classes of DRPs studied, 103 (32.6%) cases related to untreated indication or need additional drug therapy, and 49 (15.5%) cases related to high medication dosage. Unnecessary drug therapy in 49 (15.5%) cases, low medication dosage in 44 (13.9%) cases, and ineffective drug therapy in 42 (13.3%) cases were the other classes of problems identified. Noncompliance in 31 (9.8%) cases was the least prevalent DRP. Independent factors which predicted the occurrence of DRPs in the study population were sex, age, polypharmacy, and clinically significant potential drug-drug interactions. The prevalence of DRPs was substantially high (73.5%). CONCLUSION: Drug-related problems are common among medical ward patients. Indication-related problems, untreated indication and unnecessary drug therapy were the most common types of DRPs among patients of our medical ward.
RESUMO
The present study investigated the presence and level of pesticide residues in wheat and khat samples collected from various localities of Ethiopia. The khat samples from Galemso and Aseno had p,p'-DDT concentrations ranged from 141.2 to 973.0 µg/Kg and 194.3-999.0 µg/Kg, respectively. Diazinon was detected in all the khat samples from BadaBuna (173.9-686.9 µg/Kg) but not in any of the samples from Galemso and Aseno. Diazinon was detected in all the wheat samples obtained from both Arsi and Bale (125.8 and 125.6 µg/Kg, respectively) and aldrin levels in these samples were below the quantification limit. Khat may be a contributing factor in the pathological diseases found among khat users.
