Int J Pharm Pract 2000:8:198-203

NEPI Foundation, S-131 88 Stockholm, Sweden
J. Lars G. Nilsson, RPh, PhD, professor
Åsa Andersson, RPh, PhD student
Apoteket AB, 131 88 Stockholm, Sweden
Sofia Kälvemark, RPh, social scientist,
Helen Lieberman-Ram, pharmacist
Birgitta Ullenius, pharmacist
Ann Wendel, pharmacist
Åsa Âberg, pharmacist

Correspondence: Dr Nilsson lars.nilsson@nepi.net

Original Papers

Surveys of drug-related therapy problems of patients using medicines for allergy, asthma and pain

J. Lars G. Nilsson, Åsa Andersson, Sofia Kålvemark, Helen Lieberman-Ram, Birgitta Ullenius, Ann Wendel and Åsa Åberg

Objective - To determine the incidence of drug-related therapy problems (DRTPs) among patients obtaining medicines for allergy, asthma or pain.
Method - Problem detection interventions at the pharmacies were carried out as project-like activities. Pharmacy staff members used open-ended questions to detect all DRTPs in patients presenting prescriptions for medicine for allergy, asthma and pain and in people buying over-the-counter (OTC) medicines for allergy. The data were collected under regular health care conditions and the study can therefore be considered as a survey of the epidemiology of DRTPs among the selected groups of patients.
Setting - Swedish community pharmacies during two one-year nationwide disease management programmes on allergy and pain.
Key findings - Of the 44,504 patients with prescriptions registered in the study, 13,895 (31 per cent) with DRTPs were detected. Of 1,135 people buying OTC medicines for hay fever/pollen allergy, 144 (13 per cent) with DRTPs were detected.
Conclusion - The study indicates that about one-third of patients with prescriptions have DRTPs. Only a fraction of all DRTPs are apparently discovered in the regular dispensing process at the pharmacies. Pharmacy staff need to use more active interventions, such as dialogue with open-ended questions, to efficiently identify and help patients with DRTPs.