Neag Maria 1, Bocșan Corina 2, Popa Adina 3, Câmpean R. 4, Mircea P.A. 1
1 1st Medical Clinic, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Romania
2 Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj Napoca, Romania
3 Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj Napoca, Romania
4 Bio-statistics consultant
Abstract
It is a fact that more frequent evidences are showing that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are used improperly. This contributes, on one hand, to the increase of the cost of health care services, and on the other hand, is impairing the safety and quality of patients’ lives. The aim of this study was to identify whether, in a non ICU ward, PPIs are used with respect for the current clinical guidelines. The research is based on the assessment of therapeutic schemes of 98 patients which were hospitalized in a non-ICU ward, summarizing 236 days of treatment with PPIs. PPI administration was analyzed in related to indication, dose, route of administration and drug interactions. We also tried to determine if there is a potential cost of PPI therapy which could, potentially, be saved. We have found that that PPIs were unnecessarily administered in 8.05% of days, having inadequate doses in 21.61% of days, there have been interactions for 1.69% of days, and route of administration was inadequate for 10.17 % of days. By comparing the total cost with the potential total cost, the first was found as significantly higher. So, PPIs are being used inappropriately to some of the patients admitted to non-ICU ward. A solution for improving PPI therapy might be to include a clinical pharmacologist as part of the medical team and follow minimal prescribing rules.