
Malede Berihun
Bahir Dar University, EthiopiaTitle: Identification and Resolution of Drug-Related Problems among Childhood Cancer Patients in Ethiopia
Abstract
Background: Even though medications play a major
role in the cure, palliation, and inhibition of disease,
they also expose patients to drug-related problems
(DRPs). Drug-related problems are frequent and may
result in reduced quality of life, morbidity, and
mortality.
Objectives: The study was aimed to identify,
characterize, and resolve DRPs in the Pediatric
Hematology/Oncology ward of Tikur Anbessa
Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Methods: A prospective observational study was
conducted from 25 June to 25 October 2018 to assess
DRPs on patients admitted at the pediatric
hematology/oncology ward of Tikur Anbessa
Specialized Hospital, which is the highest level
governmental tertiary care hospital in Ethiopia. Data
were obtained from patients’ medical charts,
physicians, patients/caregivers, pharmacists, and
nurses. All the collected data were entered and
analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social
Sciences version 25e. Descriptive statistics were used
to represent the data.
Results: Among the total 156
participants, DRPs were identified in 68.6% of the
study subjects. Dosing problems which include
dosage too low and high were the top ranking (39.3%)
of all DRPs followed by needs additional therapy
(27.2%) and nonadherence (14.0%). Systemic antiinfectives were the most common class of drugs
involved in DRPs. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole,
methotrexate, vincristine, ondansetron, and
metoclopramide were frequently involved in DRPs.
The addition of drugs and change in drug dose were
the two most proposed intervention types. Among
the proposed interventions, 223 (92.15%) were fully
accepted, 9 (3.72%) partially accepted, and 10 (4.13%)
not accepted.
Conclusion: DRPs are common among
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology ward patients. The
hospital should develop a pediatric dosing chart for
the commonly prescribed medications to prevent
drug-related morbidity and mortality. The integration
of clinical pharmacists can mitigate risks associated
with DRPs.
Biography
Malede Berihun Yismaw received his Bachelor of
Science degree in pharmacy (2015) and Master of
Science degree in Pharmacy practice (2018) both from
Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Currently, he is working as lecturer at the Department
of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health
Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. He
has more than 10 publications in reputable journals
and reviewing journal articles upon invitation. His
research interest includes innovations in clinical
pharmacy and participating in clinical trials.