Journal of Pharmaceutical Care & Health Systems
Open Access

Abstract

Assessment of Drug Therapy Problems and Contributing Factors among Adult Ambulatory Hypertensive Patients in Ayder Referral Hospital, Mekelle Northern Ethiopia

Werkya Mahammedsied, Mamo Feyissa*, Workineh Shibeshi

Background: Use of multiple medications to achieve target blood pressure among hypertensive patients makes them at high risk of drug therapy problems. This study is aimed to assess the magnitude of DTPs and contributing factors among adult ambulatory hypertensive patients in Ayder Referral Hospital.

Method: Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the DTPs among hypertensive patients on regular clinic follow-up. Data were collected by reviewing the patient medical records and patient interview using a structured data abstraction format. Descriptive statistics such as mean and percentage were used and data were presented as tables and figures. Logistic and multivariate regressions analysis was performed to identify factors related to DTPs using SPSS version 25.

Result: A total of 277 DTPs were identified from 203 (52.8%) study participants. The average DTPs per patient was 1.36 and at least one DTP was identified from 133 (65.5%) patients, 2 DTPs in 66 (32.5%) patients and 3 DTPs in 4 (1.97%) patients. Unnecessary drug therapy was the leading DTP 90 (32.5%) followed by needing additional drug therapy 69 (24.9%), dose too high 63 (22.7%) and ineffective drug therapy 33 (11.9%). Among antihypertensive medications, ACEIs were the most frequently associated with DTPs. The total number of medications taken by the patient was an important predictor of occurrence of DTP.

Conclusion: The prevalence of DTPs among ambulatory hypertensive patients was high in Ayder Referral Hospital. The most commonly identified DTPs were related to indication and safety of drug therapy

Published Date: 2020-11-18; Received Date: 2020-03-12