Pharmaceutical interventions on prescription problems in a Danish pharmacy setting.

backgroundInternational studies regarding pharmacists' interventions towards prescription problems produce highly variable results. The only peer-reviewed study in a Danish setting estimated an intervention rate of 2.3 per 1,000 prescriptions. With the introduction of a new tool for registration, we hypothesized that a better estimate could be obtained.

objectiveWe aimed to produce an up-to-date estimate of the extent and type of pharmacists' interventions towards prescription problems in a Danish pharmacy setting

settingThe study was conducted at Copenhagen Sønderbro Pharmacy, a large urban 24-hour pharmacy.

methodData were collected prospectively through an electronic form. All interventions were primarily classified as either clinical or administrative in nature, and further classified in a number of pre-determined subcategories. Furthermore, information about age, sex, time of day, the wording of the prescription, the performed intervention, the person performing the intervention and the type of prescriber were recorded. All entries were manually validated by a study pharmacist.

main outcome measureThe intervention rate, given as the number of interventions per 1,000 prescriptions.

resultsWe found 599 validated interventions. Thirty-two percent of the interventions were clinical and 68% administrative by nature. Fifty-one percent of the administrative and 35% of the clinical interventions were regarding antibiotics. In the study period, a total of 55,522 prescriptions were filled out together with 3,069 dose-dispensing packages, giving a rate of 10.2 (9.4-11.1) interventions per 1,000 prescriptions.

conclusionWe found an intervention rate substantially higher than reported in previous Danish studies.