Article

National Survey of Medication Safety Practice: Drug Information at Primary Healthcare Centers/Community Pharmacies in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

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Pharmacology, Toxicology and Biomedical Reports, 2018, 4, 3, 37-42.
DOI: 10.5530/PTB.2018.4.13
Published: September 2018
Type: Research Article
Authors: Yousef Ahmed Alomi, Manar Mohammed Alslim, Rana Mohammed Alslim, Khulud Abdulrahman Alamoudi, Zainab Abdulmunem Almuallem, and Adel Mehmas H. Alragas

Author(s) affiliations:

Yousef Ahmed Alomi1, Manar Mohammed Alslim2, Rana Mohammed Alslim3,  Khulud Abdulrahman Alamoudi4, Zainab Abdulmunem Almuallem5, Adel Mehmas H. Alragas6

1The Former General Manager of General Administration of Pharmaceutical Care, The Former Head, National Clinical pharmacy and pharmacy practice, The Former Head, Pharmacy R and D Administration, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA.

2Staff pharmacist, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA.

3Staff pharmacist, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA.

4Narcotic in-charge, Alhammadi hospital Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA.

5Saudi Food and Drug Authority Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA.

6Medical city-king Saud university, Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA.

Abstract

Objective: To explore regarding drug information at Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) and Community Pharmacies (CPs) in Riyadh city, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methods: This is a 4-month crosssectional survey conducted at PHCs and CPs in Riyadh city. In this study, the survey was adapted and modified from the Institution of Safe Medication Practice (ISMP) medication safety self-assessment for community/ambulatory pharmacy. It consists of a demographic section and 10 domains with 198 questions. The domains captured the following information: patient information; drug information; communication of drug orders and other drug information; drug labeling and packaging and nomenclature; use of medication delivery devices; environmental factors; staff competency and education; patient education; quality processes; and risk management domain. The survey was conducted at PHCs of Ministry of Health and at CPs located in Riyadh city. This study is focused on the second domain, that is, drug information at PHCs and CPs in Riyadh city. Results: The survey was distributed to 13 PHCs and 23 CPs. The average ± Standard Deviation (SD) of all ISMP-self assessment items of medication safety practice at PHCs was 2.75±0.36 (54.94%) (95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 2.55–2.95; P<0.05; range = 2.04–3.38). The average score of all ISMP-self assessment items of medication safety practice at CPs was 3.14±0.42 (62.86%) (95% CI = 2.90–4.38; P<0.05; range = 2.40–3.88). The average score of drug information domain at PHCs was 2.04±0.34 (40.8%) (95% CI = 1.89–2.19; P<0.05; range = 1.50–2.73), whereas that at the CPs was 2.35±0.5 (47%) (95% CI = 2.13–2.57; P<0.05; range = 1.61–3.43). Conclusion: The PHCs and CPs need to improve the key aspects of drug information related to the safety documentation and reporting system for medications. We recommend that the PHCs and CPs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) should regularly conduct awareness programs on medication safety. We also recommend conducting an annual follow-up assessment of all the critical elements of drug information related to the medication safety system at PHCs and CPs.

Keywords: Community Pharmacies, Drug Information, Medication, Primary Healthcare Centers, Riyadh, Safety, Saudi Arabia