Investigation of Drug Therapy Management in Patients Considered Candidates for Cardiac Surgery at Yazd Shohadaye Kargar Hospital in 2022 — A Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

Introduction: This study sought to investigate the pharmacist’s role in detecting medication errors through medication reconciliation and to investigate how anesthesiologists manage drug therapy prior to surgery in patient at Yazd Social Security Hospital.

Methods: A descriptive-cross-sectional study utilized a simple and accessible sampling method on patients eligible for non-cardiac surgery. The drug combination form was filled out within the first 24 to 48 hours of hospitalization and was compared to the history obtained by the medical internship student. The method of drug therapy management was monitored and recorded before the patient's surgery. Data were analyzed utilizing SPSS software (ver. 16).

Results: Out of 300 candidates for non-cardiac surgery, 57.3 percent were females, with an average patient age of 50.84 ± 16 years. 41.7% of patients utilized at least one of their medicines in the hospital less frequently than at home. 41% of patients experienced a medication error by changing at least one of the medications they use at home. 30.7% of patients had at least one of their medicines was taken at an incorrect dosage. During the pre-surgery medication evaluation, 35.3% of patients had only made decisions on a few of their medications at home, while 35% had not made any decisions regarding their medications.

Conclusion: The occurrence of inadvertent medication errors in elective patients hospitalized is undeniable, and the existing medicines reconciliation process is inadequate to prevent these errors. Therefore, developing systematic strategies and determining efficient evaluation points in the pharmaceutical chain to reduce the occurrence of pharmaceutical errors seems necessary.