Assessment of the Logical Prescription of Albumin Drug According to Guideline and Patient Safety for Inpatients in Intensive Care Units of Iranian Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study

Naghme  Dashti; Hesamoddin  Hosseinjani; Saeid  Eslami; Seyed Mohammad  Tabatabaei; Hasan Vakili  Arki

doi:10.18502/aacc.v11i1.17489

Naghme Dashti Department of Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Hesamoddin Hosseinjani Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Saeid Eslami Department of Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Seyed Mohammad Tabatabaei Department of Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Hasan Vakili Arki Department of Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/aacc.v11i1.17489

Keywords: Drug utilization evaluation; Guideline; Patient safety; Medication error

Abstract

Background: Medication errors in healthcare settings, including outpatient and hospital environments, pose a significant risk to patient safety. These errors can arise from incorrect dosages, drug interactions, contraindications, or inappropriate drug combinations.

Methods: This study aimed to assess the logical prescription of albumin according to guidelines and patient safety for inpatients in the intensive care units of Imam Reza Hospital in Mashhad through a cross-sectional study. Methods: Data were collected over a 3-month period from albumin prescriptions in intensive care units, using a checklist based on information from prescription forms, patient files, and consultations.

Results: The study found that 60.57% of albumin prescriptions were reviewed by DUE unit, with 51.53% complying with guidelines and 48.47% not. The highest prescription rate was in the Intensive Care Unit of Heart Surgery (ICUOH), at 36.83%, and the lowest in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), at 0.63%. The patient safety parameter, calculated based on correct/incorrect albumin prescriptions according to guidelines, showed an average safety of 67.10% across prescribing units and 62.34% based on indications. It reduced the financial burden caused by inappropriate prescriptions approximately $21,390 through DUE process.

Conclusion: The research highlights the importance of continuous guideline-base DUE on rational drug utilization, patient safety and hospitals costs.