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Assessment of medication discrepancies with point prevalence measurement : how accurate are the medication lists for Swedish patients?

Modig, Sara LU orcid ; Caleres, Gabriella LU ; Nymberg, Veronica Milos LU orcid ; Petersson, Fredrik ; Lundstedt, Lars and Lenander, Cecilia LU (2022) In Drugs and Therapy Perspectives 38(4). p.185-193
Abstract

Background: Medication discrepancies are common, potentially harmful and may result from poor medication information across medical records. Our aim was to describe current medication discrepancy rates, types and severity in hospital, primary and specialized outpatient care in Sweden, as well as comparing these with previous measurements. Methods: Participants visiting health care in Skåne in November 2020 were randomly selected to include 100 adult patients each in public and private primary health care centers, hospitals and outpatient care. Within 2 weeks after a health care visit or hospital admission, a pharmacist medication reconciliation was performed to identify any discrepancies. Two general practitioners assessed their... (More)

Background: Medication discrepancies are common, potentially harmful and may result from poor medication information across medical records. Our aim was to describe current medication discrepancy rates, types and severity in hospital, primary and specialized outpatient care in Sweden, as well as comparing these with previous measurements. Methods: Participants visiting health care in Skåne in November 2020 were randomly selected to include 100 adult patients each in public and private primary health care centers, hospitals and outpatient care. Within 2 weeks after a health care visit or hospital admission, a pharmacist medication reconciliation was performed to identify any discrepancies. Two general practitioners assessed their potential to cause harm. Descriptive and comparative statistics were used. Results: In total, 405 patients (mean age 61.6 years, median 6.5 medications) were included in the analysis. The majority (72%) of the included patients had ≥1 medication list discrepancy. Total number of discrepancies was 1038 (average 2.6 per patient), with a significantly higher discrepancy rate (4.5) noted in specialized outpatient care (p < 0.001). Overall, unintentional addition (44%) or omission (39%) of drug were most frequent. Out of all discrepancies, 20.7% were rated to have moderate (18.2%) or high (2.5%) potential risk of harm. Cardiovascular, nervous system and antidiabetic medications were more often involved in potentially harmful discrepancies. When compared with previous measurements, the proportion of accurate medication lists significantly improved in primary care compared to 2018 (34% vs 20%, p = 0.0011), as well as a decrease in overall discrepancy rate (p = 0.0029). Conclusion: Medication discrepancies were in general abundant despite a recent health care visit, both in hospital care and primary care, with the highest number in specialized outpatient care. A considerable share was classified as potentially harmful thus implying a major threat to medication safety.

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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Drugs and Therapy Perspectives
volume
38
issue
4
pages
9 pages
publisher
Adis International
external identifiers
  • scopus:85129312881
ISSN
1172-0360
DOI
10.1007/s40267-022-00907-9
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b394556c-9ce8-4b80-bdd8-8e24ec5738fc
date added to LUP
2022-07-08 11:31:16
date last changed
2024-10-04 04:08:24
@article{b394556c-9ce8-4b80-bdd8-8e24ec5738fc,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Medication discrepancies are common, potentially harmful and may result from poor medication information across medical records. Our aim was to describe current medication discrepancy rates, types and severity in hospital, primary and specialized outpatient care in Sweden, as well as comparing these with previous measurements. Methods: Participants visiting health care in Skåne in November 2020 were randomly selected to include 100 adult patients each in public and private primary health care centers, hospitals and outpatient care. Within 2 weeks after a health care visit or hospital admission, a pharmacist medication reconciliation was performed to identify any discrepancies. Two general practitioners assessed their potential to cause harm. Descriptive and comparative statistics were used. Results: In total, 405 patients (mean age 61.6 years, median 6.5 medications) were included in the analysis. The majority (72%) of the included patients had ≥1 medication list discrepancy. Total number of discrepancies was 1038 (average 2.6 per patient), with a significantly higher discrepancy rate (4.5) noted in specialized outpatient care (p &lt; 0.001). Overall, unintentional addition (44%) or omission (39%) of drug were most frequent. Out of all discrepancies, 20.7% were rated to have moderate (18.2%) or high (2.5%) potential risk of harm. Cardiovascular, nervous system and antidiabetic medications were more often involved in potentially harmful discrepancies. When compared with previous measurements, the proportion of accurate medication lists significantly improved in primary care compared to 2018 (34% vs 20%, p = 0.0011), as well as a decrease in overall discrepancy rate (p = 0.0029). Conclusion: Medication discrepancies were in general abundant despite a recent health care visit, both in hospital care and primary care, with the highest number in specialized outpatient care. A considerable share was classified as potentially harmful thus implying a major threat to medication safety.</p>}},
  author       = {{Modig, Sara and Caleres, Gabriella and Nymberg, Veronica Milos and Petersson, Fredrik and Lundstedt, Lars and Lenander, Cecilia}},
  issn         = {{1172-0360}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{185--193}},
  publisher    = {{Adis International}},
  series       = {{Drugs and Therapy Perspectives}},
  title        = {{Assessment of medication discrepancies with point prevalence measurement : how accurate are the medication lists for Swedish patients?}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40267-022-00907-9}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s40267-022-00907-9}},
  volume       = {{38}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}