Abstract:

It is challenging to characterize the drug-related problems (DRPs) of patients treated by Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine (ITCWM), both locally and globally. In the present study, we aimed to assess DRPs and factors associated with their occurrence among inpatients of the ITCWM department in China. We retrospectively examined medication use in the ITCWM department, documented in Intelligent Management System Software for Critical Rational Administration of Drug. Various types of DRPs classification were performed based on the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe (PCNE) classification tool V9.0, and associations of patient’s characteristics were analyzed. A total of 1606 DRPs were identified in 687 inpatients in this study. Problems and causes of DRPs, intervention, acceptance, and outcome of that were classified. PPI (21.7%), endogenous supplements (15.4%), and traditional Chinese medicine (8.7%) contributed to the significant proportion of drug categories associated with DRPs. Approximately half of the patients (47.6%) had at least one DRP. The top four categories of causes were "drug administered via the wrong route" (18.4%), "inappropriate combination" (16.7%), "too long duration of the treatment" (13.0%), and "inappropriate drug form" (12.1%). Total 63.6% of intervention was accepted and fully implemented. "EPP" and "hospital stay days ≥ 10 d" characteristics were most likely to be significantly associated with DRPs. As a necessary review item, DRP was highly performed among inpatients of the ITCWM department. The work provided a benchmark for this population through the PCNE strategy.

Key words: Drug-related problems, DRPs, Integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine department, ITCWM