MAGNITUDE OF DRUG THERAPY PROBLEM AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG ADULT PATIENTS ADMITTED TO SURGICAL WARD OF WACHEMO UNIVERSITY COMPREHENSIVE SPECIALI ZED HOSPITAL, HOSSANA, CENTRAL ETHIOPIA.

Abstract

Drug therapy problems are common in hospitalized patients and may lead to increased hospital stays, health care costs, and increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Surgical patients inherently have operative interventions, and these interventions cause medication changes. Data is lacking on the magnitude of drug therapy problems and their associated factors in hospitalized surgical patients in the study areas. Objective: This study aimed to assess the magnitude of drug-therapy problems and associated factors among adult patients admitted to the surgical ward at Wachemo University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Hosanna, Central Ethiopia. Methods: A hospital-based prospective cross-sectional study was conducted among 304 participants admitted to the surgical ward from January 1 to March 30, 2024, at Wachemo University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. By using convenient types of sampling techniques , the data was collected through patients’ interviews and chart reviews using a pre- tested questionnaire. Data was entered using Epi Data version 3.1 software and exported to Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20 software for analysis. Binary and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the factors associated with drug therapy problems. A variable with a value < 0.25 from the bivariate analysis was entered into the multivariable model. In all cases, a 95% confidence interval and P–value <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: The total number of recruited patients was 330. Of them, 304 participants who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. Of those who met the inclusion criteria, more than half of them (216, 71.1%) were males. The mean age of the study participants was 44 (±17) years. Nearly half of the patients encountered at least one drug therapy problem, and 464 drug therapy problems were identified with a magnitude of 73.68% (95% CI:0.684-0.785). Non-compliance (27.0%) was the most frequently identified drug therapy problem,followed by a need for additional drug therapy (21.1%) and ineffective drug therapy (15.3%). Length of hospital stay ≥ 7 days [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)= 2.47 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.243-4.909, p=0.01]), ≥ 5 drugs taken per day (AOR=2.874 [95%CI: 1.411-5.851,p=0.004]) and postoperative antibiotics use (AOR=0.057 [95%CI: [0.028-0.115, p=0.001]) significantly affect drug therapy problem. Conclusion: This study identified a high drug therapy problem that was independently predicted by the presence of polypharmacy, ≥7 days of hospital stay, and postoperative antibiotic use. Non- compliance and adverse drug reactions were the most frequent and least identified drug therapy problems, respectively. Therefore, early identification of drug therapy problems and the associated factors may enhance the prevention and management of drug therapy problems, and also clinical pharmacists must collaborate with other healthcare professionals to increase patient drug therapy outcomes.