Polypharmacy
The overuse of medications by patients and over-prescribing by physicians have repeatedly been cited as the cause of drug-induced diseases, e.g. hospitalized patients receive an average of eight to ten drugs, nursing home patients receive from five to nine medications, ambulatory patients used to receive an average of five medications. Multiple drug therapy increases the probability of drug-induced disease. Therefore, patients must receive only those medications that are necessary.
Adverse Reactions
Adverse reactions of drugs are a major public health
problem and account for 3% to 5% of
admissions to hospital medical services. It has been stated in the different
studies that with more careful
prescribing and monitoring 60 - 80% of these adverse reactions could be prevented.
Medication Errors
Also, cause problems in institutionalized patients. Unit dose drug distribution systems have significantly reduced the occurrence of medication errors but this area still demands the attention of pharmacy and nursing personnel.
Non-Compliance
Pharmaceutical care is an integral part of patient
outcomes, prescribed drugs have therapeutic advantages as well as drug-related
problems such as contraindications, adverse drug reactions, side effects,
adverse effects, overdose, and missed doses. Whereas patient factors such as polypharmacy (administration of
multiple medicines or drug therapy systems at a
single time), wrong time of drug administration, wrong route, and wrong
time.
Through careful drug monitoring activities,
non-compliant patients can be identified and appropriate educational programs
can be instituted.