Clinical Pharmacy Services in a Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit in Iran: A Focus on a Comprehensive Medication Management Model

Kamyab Andarzbakhsh; Niayesh Mohebbi; Amir Rezazadeh; Kheirollah Gholami; Ramin Abrishami

doi:10.18502/jpc.v11i3.15999

Kamyab Andarzbakhsh Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Tehran Medical sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Niayesh Mohebbi Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Amir Rezazadeh Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Kheirollah Gholami Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Ramin Abrishami Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Tehran Medical sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jpc.v11i3.15999

Keywords: Clinical Pharmacy; Intensive Care Unit; Drug Related Problems

Abstract

Background: Critically ill patients treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) are at risk of drug-related problems (DRPs), clinical pharmacists are specifically trained in pharmacotherapy evaluations with the abilities to identify and manage drug-related complications. This study aims to identify areas where clinical pharmacists can be effective in the ICU. The primary outcomes of this study were determining the clinical aspect of clinical pharmacists in the ICU, type, and number of clinical pharmacist interventions.

Methods: This was a prospective, interventional study in a teaching hospital in Iran. A clinical pharmacist was dedicated to implement comprehensive medication management (CMM); All Pharmacotherapy Problems were categorized.

Results: During the monitoring of 162 patients by the clinical pharmacist, 1524 interventions were conducted. The most frequent pharmacotherapy-related problems identified were drug selection (33.3%), dose adjustment (17.3%), and fluid and electrolyte management (12.9%).

Conclusion: Clinical pharmacists’ interventions could reduce the rate of DRPs by pharmacotherapy evaluation and may have important role in many aspects of patient’s management.