Systematic review of the implementation and evaluation of Pharmaceutical Care in hospitalised patients (Pharmaceutical Care implementation in hospitalised patients. Systematic review)

Introduction

The persistence of drug-related morbidity and mortality of patients admitted to hospital means scientific criteria need to be identified for implementing and evaluating Pharmaceutical Care (phC) in a hospital setting.

Objective

To conduct a systematic review of the literature to identify, select and analyse studies on the implementation and evaluation of phC in hospitalised patients.

Material and methods

A search for articles related to clinical pharmacy (CP) and phC published between 1990 and 2006 was performed using a restricted search strategy combining all descriptors. The databases searched were Medline, Embase, Drug & Pharmacology and Cochrane Library. Original and review articles, available in English or Spanish, describing CP and phC programmes which had a participating pharmacist and were carried out on hospitalised patients were selected.

Results

Sixty-six articles were found, of which 49 (74.2%) were included and 17 (25.8%) excluded. 15 (22.7%) regarding the integration between CP and phC in hospitals were selected, as well as 18 (27.3%) on implementing phC and 16 (24.2%) related to the evaluation of phC programmes.

Conclusions

In the studies described, pharmacists have managed to incorporate phC programmes in the care activities of pharmacy services. Efforts to unify CP and phC criteria should be a common plan for the future in this profession. Patients treated must obtain specific health benefits from phC and medical institutions must recognise they have beneficial effects at a reasonable cost.