Frequency and characteristics of hospital admissions associated with drug-related problems in paediatrics

Aim: To determine the frequency of paediatric hospital admissions associated with drug-related problems (DRPs) at two Australian hospitals. Methods: The investigator and ward pharmacists prospectively screened eligible patients. A multidisciplinary panel reviewed data and established causality, preventability and clinical significance classifications. Results: Over 22 weeks of data collection, a total of 11 564 patients were admitted, 2933 met eligibility criteria. Of those eligible, 127 [4.3%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.6, 5.0] were judged to have hospital admissions associated with DRPs. Direct costs associated with DRPs identified totalled £100 707. Of the 81 cases assessed for preventability, 46.9% were deemed preventable. Conclusions: This research has provided information on the nature and characteristics of paediatric DRPs associated with hospital admissions.