Outcomes of Pharmaceutical Care Services in Promoting rational Drug Use

Abstract

Pharmacists provide pharmaceutical care service in order to support rational drug use. However, still lack of evidence to show its outcomes. Therefore, this cross-sectional descriptive study and qualitative study were conducted to evaluate the outcomes of pharmaceutical care services and to clarify pharmaceutical care services format for promoting rational drug use in chronic patients. Outcomes of pharmaceutical care service in Lampang Hospital both in outpatients and inpatients in fiscal year 2015 were collected. Doctors, nurses and pharmacists anticipated in pharmaceutical care services were in depth interviewed regarding the satisfaction of pharmaceutical service, the suitable and benefit for staff and patient, suggestion for pharmaceutical services and policy suggestion. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results revealed that pharmacist who provided pharmaceutical care services promoted effective use of drug use by audit and feedback inappropriate prescriptions, promoted safety use of drug by preventing adverse drug events and drug-drug interaction, increased patient compliance use of drug and reduced drug cost from medication reconciliation process. Data from in-depth interviewing found that pharmacists who provide pharmaceutical care services, doctors and nurses who are co-worker were satisfy with currently providing pharmaceutical care services and had consensus that the pharmacy services were more effective and rational use support. Patients got correct drug, had more safety in drug use, could use drug correctly and appropriately and save cost. This research confirmed that we should have pharmaceutical care services or clinical pharmacists in chronic patient care services as tools to promote rational drug use in heath care setting.

Key words: pharmaceutical care, rational drug use, chronic disease, national policy, outcome