Reducing medication errors in HIV-positive patients: Influence of a clinical pharmacist

Elmien Bronkhorst*, Michè Joseph-Busby, Selente Bezuidenhout

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: The roll-out of antiretroviral medicines has improved life expectancy in people living with HIV (PLHIV). This has resulted in more patients being hospitalised for noncommunicable diseases, increasing risk for medication errors (MEs). Pharmacists, through medication reconciliation, may identify and reduce MEs in this population. Objectives: To describe the importance of a pharmacist’s involvement in identifying and quantifying types of MEs. Method: A quantitative, prospective observational study was conducted over 14 weeks. A pharmacist reviewed HIV-positive, hospitalised patients’ files, using a data collection instrument, to determine the prevalence of MEs in PLHIV. The study pharmacist recommended appropriate actions to the prescriber to resolve MEs and documented resolution of the MEs. Results: The study population of n = 180 patient files were reviewed 453 times, identifying 466 MEs. Medication errors included incorrect medication reconciliation from history (19; 4.1%), prescription omission (17; 3.7%), duplication of therapy (10; 2.2%), missed doses (265; 57.1%), incorrect dosing (103; 22.2%), incorrect administration frequency (2; 0.4%), incorrect duration of therapy (15; 3.2%) and drug-drug interactions (18; 3.9%). More than half (58.2%) of the MEs were resolved in less than 24 h, with involvement of the pharmacist. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the magnitude of MEs experienced in hospitalised PLHIV and highlights the role clinical pharmacists play in identifying and resolving MEs to improve patient outcomes.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbera1594
JournalSouthern African Journal of HIV Medicine
Volume25
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024

Keywords

  • HIV
  • clinical pharmacist
  • co-morbidities
  • medication errors
  • opportunistic infections
  • people living with HIV

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