A pharmacist's unique opportunity within a multidisciplinary team to reduce drug-related problems for older adults in an intermediate care setting

Abstract

Background: There is a paucity of research describing the pharmacist's role in the multidisciplinary care of older adults in the intermediate care setting.

Objective: To determine the types of drug-related problems (DRPs) in older patients in this setting, to evaluate the implementation rate of pharmacist recommendations and the factors affecting implementation, and to assess the clinical significance of these recommendations.

Methods: Data were collected over a 12-week period on one pharmacist's recommendations to reduce clinically relevant DRPs identified during medication reconciliation and review for all patients ≥65 years admitted to an intermediate care unit. The clinical significance of the recommendations was judged by four independent assessors using a validated tool. Statistical significance was predetermined as p < 0.05.

Results: Of 494 clinically relevant DRPs identified in 91 patients (mean age: 82 years), 406 recommendations were communicated to the medical team, and 89.2% were implemented. Overall, 48.5% were communicated verbally, but no difference was found between the implementation rates of verbal and written recommendations (87.8% versus 90.4%; p = 0.4). Medication reconciliation recommendations were implemented more commonly than those regarding medication review (96.5% versus 79.5%; p < 0.0001). Recommendations judged to be of 'moderate significance' (66.8% of total) were implemented more often than those of 'minor significance' (93.2% versus 81.6%; p < 0.001). The consultant was provided with a significantly higher proportion of recommendations of 'moderate significance' when compared to the junior doctor (79.6% versus 63.3%; p = 0.02), but implemented significantly fewer recommendations (69.4% versus 91.9%; p < 0.0001).

Conclusion: The high implementation rate in this study shows the importance of pharmacist involvement to reduce DRPs in the multidisciplinary care of older adults in an intermediate care unit. Future research should focus on investigating the impact of pharmacist interventions on older patient outcomes and the associated cost-effectiveness in this setting.

Keywords: Drug-related problems; Intermediate care; Medication; Older adults; Pharmacist.