Evaluation of inclusion criteria of outpatients included at hospital medication dispensing programme through community pharmacies

ABSTRACT

Background and ImportanceDuring the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to avoid the possible transmission of SARS-COV2, some hospitals developed an outpatient hospital medication dispensing programme through delivery to community pharmacies. To access the programme , outpatients had to meet all the criteria established by Health Authorities adherence to treatment, live more than 30 km from the hospital and present some vulnerability condition (age >65 years, reduced mobility or respiratory pathology). This programme has been maintained over time due to the excellent acceptance by patients.Aim and ObjectivesTo evaluate the compliance of our hospital with the inclusion criteria and analyse possible deviations, assessing whether it is necessary to modify them based on the current health context.Material and MethodsCross-sectional observational study in which all active outpatients in the programme between July and September 2022 were included.The following variables were collected demographic, distance between home and hospital, vulnerability conditions and adherence to treatment.Results95 patients were evaluated, 94 (98.9%) of them were adherent to chronic treatment, 81 (85.3%) lived more than 30 km from the hospital. Regarding the vulnerability conditions 68 (71.6%) were older than 65 years and 14 (14.7%) had a vulnerability condition other than age over 65 years.Of all the evaluated patients, 75 (78.9%) met all the inclusion criteria. 20 (21.1%) patients were in the programme , but did not meet some criteria 6 (30.0%) patients lived less than 30 km away, 8 (40.0%) did not have a vulnerable condition and 6 (30 .0%) did not meet more than one inclusion criteria.Conclusion and RelevanceThe medication dispensing programme through community pharmacies offers an option for vulnerable patients and/or those with difficulty going to the hospital to collect their chronic medication, thus facilitating therapeutic compliance of treatment.Although a high percentage of patients met the established criteria, deviations were detected. That make us consider the need to modify these criteria in order to access in the programme according to current needs of outpatients.References and/or AcknowledgementsConflict of InterestNo conflict of interest