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Frequency and characteristics of hospital admissions associated with drug‐related problems in paediatrics

Article date: May 2004

By: Kylie L. Easton, Colin B. Chapman, Jo‐anne E. Brien, in Volume 57, Issue 5, pages 611-615

Aim

To determine the frequency of paediatric hospital admissions associated with drug‐related problems (DRPs) at two Australian hospitals.

Methods

The investigator and ward pharmacists prospectively screened eligible patients. A multidisciplinary panel reviewed data and established causality, preventability and clinical significance classifications.

Results

Over 22 weeks of data collection, a total of 11 564 patients were admitted, 2933 met eligibility criteria. Of those eligible, 127 [4.3%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.6, 5.0] were judged to have hospital admissions associated with DRPs. Direct costs associated with DRPs identified totalled £100 707. Of the 81 cases assessed for preventability, 46.9% were deemed preventable.

Conclusions

This research has provided information on the nature and characteristics of paediatric DRPs associated with hospital admissions.

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.2003.02052.x

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