23. EVALUATING THE ROLE OF PHARMACISTS IN THE INPATIENT MEDICATION REVIEW PROCESS: A QUALITATIVE STUDY AT 108 MILITARY CENTRAL HOSPITAL

Nguyen Khanh Huyen1, Do Xuan Thang2, Nguyen Trung Ha1
1 108 Military Central Hospital
2 Hanoi University of Pharmacy

Main Article Content

Abstract

Objective: To assess and compare the actual responsibilities of pharmacists in the inpatient medication review process at 108 Military Central Hospital with current legal regulations, thereby proposing a revised medication review procedure that meets both professional requirements and practical needs.


Subjects and methods: This qualitative study was conducted from December 2024 to February 2025 at the Department of Pharmacy and the Institute of Gastroenterology – 108 Military Central Hospital. Data were collected through direct observations and semi-structured interviews with nine healthcare professionals and analyzed using thematic coding with independent cross-review.


Results: The current pharmacist-led inpatient medication review mainly focuses on administrative verification. Due to limited staffing and time constraints, pharmacists are unable to review each medical record thoroughly, thus falling short of fulfilling their clinical responsibilities as prescribed by existing regulations. Error detection relies heavily on personal experience, lacking support tools and interprofessional collaboration. Proposed improvements include increasing staff, assigning pharmacists by specialty, refining the review workflow, and applying technology to enable case-by-case review immediately after prescribing, with digital documentation of interventions.


Conclusion: Pharmacists are not yet fully performing their mandated duties in inpatient medication review, facing significant limitations in human resources, clinical expertise, and technological support. Strengthening both the quantity and quality of pharmacy personnel and implementing a revised medication review process are essential to ensuring pharmacists can fulfill their roles in improving the safety, rationality, and effectiveness of inpatient medication use.

Article Details

References

[1] Li Zhou et al. Establishment, maintenance and application effect analysis of the prescription pre-review system in a tertiary hospital in china, 2023.
[2] Youngmee Kim, Gregory Schepers. Pharmacist intervention documentation in US health care systems, Hospital pharmacy. 2003, 38 (12), p. 1141-1147.
[3] Hussain Abdullah Mubarak Al Rahbi, Raid Mahmood Al-Sabri, Havagiray R Chitme. Interventions by pharmacists in out-patient pharmaceutical care. Saudi pharmaceutical journal, 2014, 22 (2), p. 101-106.
[4] Bệnh viện Trung ương Quân đội 108. https://benhvien108.vn/home.htm, 2021.
[5] Bộ Y tế. Thông tư số 23/2011/TT-BYT ban hành ngày 10 tháng 6 năm 2011 về Hướng dẫn sử dụng thuốc trong cơ sở y tế có giường bệnh.
[6] Bộ Y tế. Thông tư số 22/2011/TT-BYT ban hành ngày 10 tháng 6 năm 2011 Quy định tổ chức và hoạt động của khoa Dược bệnh viện.
[7] Bộ Y tế. Nghị định số 131/2020/NĐ-CP ban hành ngày 02 tháng 11 năm 2020 Quy định về tổ chức, hoạt động dược lâm sàng của cơ sở khám bệnh, chữa bệnh.
[8] Bộ Y tế. Quyết định số 5631/QĐ-BYT ban hành ngày 31 tháng 12 năm 2020 về ài liệu “Hướng dẫn thực hiện quản lý sử dụng kháng sinh trong bệnh viện”.
[9] Salh et al. Pharmacist’s Knowledge, Attitude, And Practice Towards Type II Diabetes Mellitus Patient in Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia. Scholars Academic Journal of Pharmacy, 2023, 12, p. 281-286.
[10] Hohl C.M et al. Impact of early in-hospital medication review by clinical pharmacists on health services utilization, PLoS One, 2017, 12, (2), e0170495.
[11] Lakhan Kanji, Sensen Xu, Afonso Cavaco. Assessing the Understanding of Pharmaceutical Pictograms among Cultural Minorities: The Example of Hindu Individuals Communicating in European Portuguese. Pharmacy, 2018, 6 (1), p. 22.
[12] JoAnn Stubbings. Nuts and Bolts of Implementing Specialty Pharmacy Services in Health System. American Society in Health System. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 2012.
[13] Wálleri Christini Torelli Reis et al. Analysis of clinical pharmacist interventions in a tertiary teaching hospital in Brazil. Einstein (Sao Paulo), 2013, 11, p. 190-196.
[14] Han Xie et al. Prospective Prescription Review System Promotes Safe Use of Analgesics, Improves Clinical Outcomes, and Saves Medical Costs in Surgical Patients: Insights from Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital. Advances in Therapy, 2022, 39 (1), p. 441-454.