Drug therapy problems and associated factors among adult patients admitted to the surgical ward in a resource-limited setting

BackgroundDrug therapy problems are common in hospitalized patients and may lead to increased hospital stays, healthcare costs, and increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Despite these facts, limited data exist on the magnitude of DTPs and associated factors among adult surgical patients in reso...

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Main Authors: Taju Seid, Jemal Abdela, Mesay Dechasa, Shambel Nigussie
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1548105/full
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author Taju Seid
Jemal Abdela
Mesay Dechasa
Shambel Nigussie
Shambel Nigussie
author_facet Taju Seid
Jemal Abdela
Mesay Dechasa
Shambel Nigussie
Shambel Nigussie
author_sort Taju Seid
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundDrug therapy problems are common in hospitalized patients and may lead to increased hospital stays, healthcare costs, and increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Despite these facts, limited data exist on the magnitude of DTPs and associated factors among adult surgical patients in resource-limited settings, particularly in a current study setting. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the magnitude of DTPs and associated factors among adult surgical patients at study setting in Ethiopia.MethodsA hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Wachemo University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital from January 1 to 30 March 2024. Data were collected through patients’ interviews and chart reviews using pre-tested questionnaires and data abstraction formats. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science version 20. Factors associated with drug therapy problems were determined by binary logistic regression analysis. A p-value of less than or equal to 0.05 was considered statistically significant in the final analysis, and an adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was used to determine the strength of the association.ResultsThe total number of recruited patients was 330. Of them, 304 participants who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Of those participants, 216 (71.1%) were males. The mean age of the study participants was 44 (±17) years. Nearly half of the patients encountered at least one drug therapy problem, and 464 drug therapy problems were identified with a magnitude of 73.68% (95% CI: 0.684–0.785). Non-compliance (27.0%) was the most frequently identified drug therapy problem, followed by a need for additional drug therapy (21.1%). Length of hospital stay ≥7 days [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.47 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.243–4.909, p = 0.01]), ≥5 drugs taken per day (AOR = 2.874 [95%CI: 1.411–5.851, p = 0.004]), and postoperative antibiotic use (AOR = 0.057 [95%CI: [0.028–0.115, p = 0.001]) significantly affect drug therapy problems.ConclusionThis study identified a high prevalence of DTPs that was independently predicted by the presence of polypharmacy, prolonged hospital stay (≥7 days), and postoperative antibiotic use. Non-compliance were the most frequent identified drug therapy problems. Therefore, early identification of drug therapy problems and the associated factors may enhance the prevention and management of drug therapy problems.
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spelling doaj-art-e2d56a46c1614e9ea74dc66f862ea8ab2025-08-20T02:43:25ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-07-011610.3389/fphar.2025.15481051548105Drug therapy problems and associated factors among adult patients admitted to the surgical ward in a resource-limited settingTaju Seid0Jemal Abdela1Mesay Dechasa2Shambel Nigussie3Shambel Nigussie4Department of Pharmacy, Clinical Pharmacy Unit, Wachemo University, Hossana, EthiopiaDepartment of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, EthiopiaDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, EthiopiaDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, EthiopiaDiscipline of Pharmacy, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, AustraliaBackgroundDrug therapy problems are common in hospitalized patients and may lead to increased hospital stays, healthcare costs, and increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Despite these facts, limited data exist on the magnitude of DTPs and associated factors among adult surgical patients in resource-limited settings, particularly in a current study setting. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the magnitude of DTPs and associated factors among adult surgical patients at study setting in Ethiopia.MethodsA hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Wachemo University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital from January 1 to 30 March 2024. Data were collected through patients’ interviews and chart reviews using pre-tested questionnaires and data abstraction formats. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science version 20. Factors associated with drug therapy problems were determined by binary logistic regression analysis. A p-value of less than or equal to 0.05 was considered statistically significant in the final analysis, and an adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was used to determine the strength of the association.ResultsThe total number of recruited patients was 330. Of them, 304 participants who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Of those participants, 216 (71.1%) were males. The mean age of the study participants was 44 (±17) years. Nearly half of the patients encountered at least one drug therapy problem, and 464 drug therapy problems were identified with a magnitude of 73.68% (95% CI: 0.684–0.785). Non-compliance (27.0%) was the most frequently identified drug therapy problem, followed by a need for additional drug therapy (21.1%). Length of hospital stay ≥7 days [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.47 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.243–4.909, p = 0.01]), ≥5 drugs taken per day (AOR = 2.874 [95%CI: 1.411–5.851, p = 0.004]), and postoperative antibiotic use (AOR = 0.057 [95%CI: [0.028–0.115, p = 0.001]) significantly affect drug therapy problems.ConclusionThis study identified a high prevalence of DTPs that was independently predicted by the presence of polypharmacy, prolonged hospital stay (≥7 days), and postoperative antibiotic use. Non-compliance were the most frequent identified drug therapy problems. Therefore, early identification of drug therapy problems and the associated factors may enhance the prevention and management of drug therapy problems.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1548105/fulldrug therapy problemsmagnitudeprevalencesurgical patientscentral Ethiopia
spellingShingle Taju Seid
Jemal Abdela
Mesay Dechasa
Shambel Nigussie
Shambel Nigussie
Drug therapy problems and associated factors among adult patients admitted to the surgical ward in a resource-limited setting
Frontiers in Pharmacology
drug therapy problems
magnitude
prevalence
surgical patients
central Ethiopia
title Drug therapy problems and associated factors among adult patients admitted to the surgical ward in a resource-limited setting
title_full Drug therapy problems and associated factors among adult patients admitted to the surgical ward in a resource-limited setting
title_fullStr Drug therapy problems and associated factors among adult patients admitted to the surgical ward in a resource-limited setting
title_full_unstemmed Drug therapy problems and associated factors among adult patients admitted to the surgical ward in a resource-limited setting
title_short Drug therapy problems and associated factors among adult patients admitted to the surgical ward in a resource-limited setting
title_sort drug therapy problems and associated factors among adult patients admitted to the surgical ward in a resource limited setting
topic drug therapy problems
magnitude
prevalence
surgical patients
central Ethiopia
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1548105/full
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