The Clinical Pharmacist-Led Medication Review Service at the Surgical Department: A Feasibility Study

AIMS: Clinical pharmacists often provide medication review services in hospital departments. Even though such services exist in several hospitals in Denmark, they have yet to be established on the Faroe Islands. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of a clinical pharmacist-led medication review service at the surgical ward of the National Hospital of the Faroe Islands.

METHODS: Hospitalised surgical patients were offered a medication review service conducted by a clinical pharmacist. Identified drug-related problems (DRPs) were categorised following the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe model, and qualitative feedback from the ward's staff was gathered.

ETHICS: In accordance with Danish law, a formal institutional ethical board assessment was not required. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

RESULTS: In total, 42 patients with 171 identified DRPs were included. The majority of the DRPs pertained to suboptimal drug effects and the safety of the drug treatment. Of the proposed medication changes, 61 (50%) were accepted by the ward physicians. Qualitative feedback indicated a higher interest in the service among younger physicians compared to their older counterparts, and among nurses compared to physicians. Barriers to optimal service implementation included the absence of some medication indications and poor visibility of pharmacists' notes in electronic health records.

CONCLUSION: The study strongly indicates the necessity for clinical pharmacists to review the medications of patients hospitalised in surgical departments. To ensure the successful implementation of the service, efforts should be directed towards cultivating physicians' interest in interdisciplinary cooperation and optimising electronic health records.