Drug-Related Problems of Children With Chronic Diseases in a Chinese Primary Health Care Institution: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Drug-related problems (DRPs) refer to events or circumstances involving drug therapy that actually or potentially interfere with desired health outcomes. DRPs might be severe for children with chronic diseases managed at primary health care institutions, but the relevant research is scarce. Objective: In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to explore the prevalence, types, causes, and influencing factors of DRPs in children with chronic diseases in a Chinese primary health care institution. Methods: We recruited children with chronic diseases who visited the pediatric outpatient department in a primary health care institution from July 1 to 12 October 2021. Clinical pharmacists identified DRPs through medication therapy reviews, classified the types and causes of DRPs, and distinguished the manifested DRPs that affected the outcome and potential DRPs that were going to affect the outcome. Results: A total of 188 children with chronic diseases was included, and 584 DRPs were identified in 89.89% of participants. The most common type of DRPs was “treatment effectiveness” (a manifested problem or potential problem with the effect of the pharmacotherapy; 83.56%), of which 67.29% were potential DRPs. The second common type was “treatment safety” (patient suffers or could suffer from an adverse drug event; 14.21%), of which 89.16% were potential DRPs. The most common cause of DRPs was related to the process of use (42.24%), such as “patient uses/takes less drug than prescribed or does not take the drug at all,” “patient stores drug inappropriately,” and “patient administers/uses the drug in a wrong way.” The second common cause was related to the process of dispensing (29.83%), such as “necessary information not provided or incorrect advice provided” and “prescribed drug is not available.” The third common cause was related to the process of prescribing (26.21%), such as “drug dose is too low” and “no or incomplete drug treatment despite an existing indication.” The number of combined medications was an influencing factor for the frequency of DRPs (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This cross-sectional study showed that the current situation regarding DRPs among children with chronic diseases managed in the primary health care institution was serious. The types of DRPs were mainly related to treatment effectiveness, and improper usage of medications was one of the main causes of DRPs. The number of combined drugs was the influencing factor for the frequency of DRPs. In the future, pharmacists should consider formulating pharmaceutical intervention strategies for this specific group according to the characteristics of DRPs.