A survey on drug related problems in cervical cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria

Abstract

Drug-related problem(s) (DRP) is defined as an event or circumstance involving medication therapy that actually or potentially interferes with an optimum outcome for specific patients. The increase in number of available drugs and drug users as well as more complex drug regimens (cervical cancer) lead to more side effects and drug interactions, and complicate follow-up. The aim of this study is to investigate DRPs in cervical cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. It was a retrospective cross sectional study on patients receiving cervical cancer chemotherapy at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Kaduna-Nigeria. Patients’ medication charts were reviewed for a period of twelve months (July, 2015 to June, 2016). Data were collected using the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe Classification V 6.2. (PCNE). Then the data was analyzed using frequency and percentages. The result of our study shows that 224 DRPs were detected from 65 patients out of 76 that where screen for the study. The most prevalence DRPs were treatment effectiveness, adverse drug reaction, treatment cost, drug selection and dose selection with the following percentages (28.13%, 29.02%, 26.79%, 28.13% and 29.02% respectively). The risk factors for DRPs were comorbidities and number of medications (polypharmacy). In conclusion, drug related problems were significantly common among cervical cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in our set up which indicate the need for intervention like involvement of a pharmacist for better therapeutic results