Impact of a pharmaceutical care programme for patients with chronic disease initiated at the emergency department on drug-related negative outcomes: a randomised controlled trial.

Background: The resolution of potential drug-related problems is a priority of pharmaceutical care programmes.

Objectives: To assess the clinical impact on drug-related negative outcomes of a pharmaceutical care programme focusing on the resolution of potential drug-related problems, initiated in the emergency department for patients with heart failure (HF) and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: Controlled trials, in which older adults (≥65 years) receiving four or more medications admitted to the emergency department for ≥12 hours for worsening of HF and/or COPD were randomised (1:1) to either a pharmaceutical care programme focusing on resolving potential drug-related problems initiated at the emergency department (intervention group (IG)) or standard care (control group).

Negative clinical outcomes of medication resulting in emergency department visits.

Purpose: The results of analyses of patients' health problems related to medication use have been highly variable due to various factors, such as different study methodology, diverse variables determined, fields of study. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence and preventability of negative clinical outcomes of medication (NCOMs).

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study performed in the emergency departments (EDs) of nine Spanish hospitals during a 3-month period.

Terms used in patient safety related to medication: a literature review.

Purpose: There is a lack of homogeneity in the terminology used in the context of patient safety related to medication. The aim of this review was to identify the terms and definitions used in patient safety related to medication within the scientific literature.

Methods: Original and review articles that were indexed between 1998 and 2008 in MEDLINE and EMBASE and contained terms used in patient safety related to medication were included.

Magnitude of the white-coat effect in the community pharmacy setting: the MEPAFAR study.

Background: There is little information regarding the community pharmacy blood pressure (CPBP) measurement method and their differences with home (HBP) or ambulatory BP (ABP). The aim of this study was to measure such differences and their variation over successive visits.

Method: Cross-sectional study carried out in eight pharmacies in Gran Canaria (Spain).

Clinical value of blood pressure measurement in the community pharmacy.

Aim Of The Study: To investigate whether the measurement of blood pressure in the community pharmacy is a valuable method to diagnose hypertension, to assess the need and the effectiveness of anti-hypertensive treatments, or, in general, to make clinical decisions.

Method: Information has been extracted from articles published in English and in Spanish, from January 1989 to December 2009, in indexed magazines in MEDLINE and EMBASE. To perform the search, multiple and specified terms related to the community pharmacy setting, to blood pressure measurement and to the comparison and agreement between blood pressure measurement methods were used.