Abstract

A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY ON POTENTIAL DRUG-DRUG INTERACTIONS AND MEDICATION ERRORS IN NEUROLOGY DEPARTMENT OF A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

A. Santhi Sri*, M. Aarthi, P. Surekha and R. Sreekrishna

ABSTRACT

Drug interaction is defined as the pharmacological activity of one drug is altered by the concominant use of another use of another drug or by the presence of some other substance. The drug whose activity is effected by such an interaction is called as an’’Object drug’. To assess the prevalence of potential drug- drug interactions and medication errors among drugs prescribed to the patients there by minimizing drug related problems and improve the patient care. The study was performed for 6 months. Approximately 200 patients was selected for the study. A Prospective observational study. Patients are enrolled in the study based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. A prospective observational study was conducted in Neurology department in a tertiary care Hospital for the period of 6 months. The patient details were collected from patients treatment charts and data was analyzed. A total of 204 patients data was collected in this study. In this study we enquired 386 patients and 204 were recruited in the study as per inclusion and exclusion criteria, 182 were excluded. Of the total 204 patients, 112 are female patients and 92 are male patients are included in this study. Our study on drug-drug interactions and medication error helps in assessing the prevalence of potential drug-drug interactions and reducing the errors and adverse consequences also helps in focusing on the rational prescription of drugs thereby minimizing the harmful drug-drug interactions as they are more in number when compared to beneficial interactions. Our study also aids in minimizing the medication related problems in patients at risk and improving the pharmaceutical care.

Keywords: Drug interaction, drug related problems, medication errors, rational prescription.