Pharmaceutical Care Concepts

Questions

1. Steps involved in pharmaceutical care

2. Elements, outcomes and process of pharmaceutical care
3. Principles of pharmaceutical care
4. Pharmaceutical care plan
5. What is pharmaceutical care? Exp. various steps involved in it.

Notes

1. What is pharmaceutical care?

 Definition: The responsible provision of drug therapy for the purpose of achieving definite therapeutic outcomes that
improve the patient’s quality of life. 1
 Goals of PCP:2
oIdentifying potential and actual drug related problems
oResolving actual drug-related problems
oPreventing drug-related problems
 These outcomes are:1
oCure of a disease
oElimination or reduction of patient’s symptomology
oArresting or slowing of a disease process
oPreventing a disease or symptoms

2. Elements of pharmaceutical care1

 Patient oriented
 Both acute and chronic problems addressed
 Stress on prevention of drug related problems
 Documented system on patient’s record, need and care
 Offering continuous care in a systematic way
 Taking help of other healthcare providers in integrating the care provided
 Highly accountable and responsible
 Emphasis on optimizing patient’s health related quality of life
 Emphasis on patient’s health education and health promotion

3. Process of pharmaceutical care1

A. Collection of patient data
B. Identification of problems
C. Establishing outcome goals through a good therapeutic plan
D. Evaluating treatment alternative, by monitoring and modifying therapeutic plan
E. Individualizing drug regimens
F. Monitoring outcomes

*Detail description require in exam. Please check reference 1 pg. no. 3 to 11

4. Steps involved in creating a pharmaceutical care plan 2

A. Establishment of a comprehensive patient database
B. Determining the actual and potential drug-related problems
C. Development of therapeutic goals
D. Identifying monitoring parameters with end points and frequency
E. Evaluation and reassessment

Detail description of above -

Establishment of patient data-base:

 Patient’s demographics (age, sex, height, weight)

 History of present illness and past medical history
 Present medication and medication history
 Drug allergy and intolerance
 Smoking, alcohol, caffeine and drug abuse history
 Compliance history
 Physical examination and abnormal laboratory results including renal and hepatic function

Assess the actual problem using SOAP format data:

S: Subjective: patient’s chief complain or why came to hospital

O: Objective: traceable facts as vital signs, lab results, blood pressure

A: Assessment: the medical diagnosis on the given date

P: Plan: treatment plan including drugs, lab orders, referrals

Drug related problems:

 Untreated indication
 Improper drug selection
 Sub-therapeutic dosage
 Failure to receive medications
 Overdosage
 Adverse drug reaction
 Drug interaction
 Medication use without indication

Development of therapeutic goals:

 Therapeutic goals must be developed for each problem. Goals should be definite, realistic, and measurable if possible.
Therapeutic goals mostly related to:
oApproach normal physiology as normalizing blood pressure
oSlow disease progression as in cancer
oPrevent adverse drug reactions
oConsider medication costs
oEducate the patient about drugs

Reassessment:

 Clinical pharmacist need to review the data base and medical care plan on a regular basis, to re-prioritize patient’s problems
and required intervention.

References:
1. Dr. H.P. Tipnis, Dr. Amrita Bajaj. Clinical pharmacy, Third edition. Career Publication. Chapter 1, pg no. 1
2. https://clinicalphar.com/pharmaceuticalcareplan.html