Pharmacology, Toxicology and Biomedical Reports, 2019, 5, 1, 28-35.
DOI: 10.5530/PTB.2019.5.6
Published: January 2019
Type: Research Article
Authors: Yousef Ahmed Alomi, Adel Mehmas Hamdi Alragas, Manar Mohammed Alslim, Khulud Abdulrahman Alamoudi, Zainab Abdulmunem Almuallem, and Rana Mohammed Alslim
Author(s) affiliations:
Yousef Ahmed Alomi*, The Past General Manager of General Administration of Pharmaceutical Care, Head, National Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Head, Pharmacy R & D Administration, Ministry of Health, Riyadh- 11392, SAUDI ARABIA.
Adel Mehmas Hamdi Alragas, Medical City-king Saud University, Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA.
Manar Mohammed Alslim, Staff Pharmacist, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA.
Khulud Abdulrahman Alamoudi, Narcotic in-charge, Alhammadi Hospital, Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA.
Zainab Abdulmunem Almuallem, Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA.
Rana Mohammed Alslim, Staff Pharmacist, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA.
Abstract
Objective: To explore the national medication safety practice with emphasis on medication administration at primary healthcare centers (PHCs) and community pharmacies (CPs) in Riyadh city, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methods: This is a four-month cross-sectional medication safety practice survey conducted at PHC pharmacies and CPs in Riyadh city. The survey consisted of the modified version of the Medication Safety Self-Assessment® for Community/Ambulatory Pharmacy from the Institute of Safe Medication Practice (ISMP). The survey consisted of a demographic section and 10 domains with 198 questions. The domains included questions on patient information; drug information; communication of drug orders and other drug information; drug labeling and packaging and nomenclature; use of devices; environmental factors; staff competency and education; patient education; quality processes; and risk management domain. In this study, we emphasized on medication administration; it is a finding from medication safety self-assessment for community/ambulatory pharmacy in Riyadh city. Results: The survey was distributed to 13 PHC pharmacies and 23 CPs. The average score of all ISMP-self assessment items of medication safety at PHCs was 2.75±0.36 (54.94%) (95% 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 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 standardization, storage and distribution domain at PHCs was 2.35±0.41 (47%) (95% CI=2.17–2.53; P<0.05; range=1.33–3.09) and in CPs, it was 3.4±0.54 (68%) (95% CI =3.16–3.54; P<0.05; range=2.22–4.25). The average score of medication devices acquisition, use and monitoring domain at PHCs was 3.62±0.14 (72.4%) (95% CI=3.26–3.978; P<0.05; range=3.45–3.70) and in CPs, it was 2.78±0.23 (55.6%) (95% CI=2.21–3.349; P<0.05; range=2.63-3.05). Conclusion: The medication administration safety was inadequate at PHCs while acceptable at CPs. Targeting to drug standardization, storage and distribution with emphasis on medication devices use and monitoring are highly recommended at PHCs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.