The Result of Drug Related Problem Solving in Elderly Diabetic Patients Observed on Home Visits by a Pharmacist

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to determine the result derived from prescribed drug related problem (DRPs) solving among elderly diabetic patients being observed by home visits carried out by a pharmacist. The design being used for this study was a one-group pretest-posttest experimental study and it was applied to 21 elderly diabetic patients. The results showed that nineteen DRPs were found with 11 patients during the first home visit. Number of DRPs gradually decreased during the second and third home visits. The most common DRPs found were related to the failure to receive medication (42.10%). Mean numbers of DRPs per patient in each pair of home visit were also compared by paired t-test. It was found that mean numbers of DRPs per patient were statistically significant for the first (mean = 0.90± 1.04) and second home visits (mean = 0.33± 0.48). However, they were not significantly found between the first and third visits and also between second and third visits. Therefore, home visits by a pharmacist provided high beneficial effect in elderly diabetic patients.