Identify and categorize drug-related problems in hospitalized surgical patients in China.

Background Data is lacking on types and severities of drug-related problems (DRPs) in hospitalized surgical patients in China. Objective To identify and categorize types and causes of DRPs, and to assess severities of these DRPs. Setting An academic teaching hospital in Chongqing, China. Method We retrospectively reviewed all medication orders for patients in six surgical departments during a six-month period. DRPs were classified using the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe (PCNE) classification, and the severity ratings of these DRPs were based on the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention (NCCMERP) classification. Main outcome measure The number, types, causes and severities of the DRPs. Results A total of 291,944 medication orders in 10,643 patients were reviewed, and 3548 DRPs were identified. The average DRP number per patient was 0.3. The most common problem was treatment effectiveness (39.9%) and the major cause of the problems was dose selection (47.0%). Total 80.1% of the DRPs were rated at severity categories B to D (causing no or potential harm), whereas 19.9% were rated as categories E to H (causing actual harm). Conclusion DRPs are common in surgical patients, and prospective pharmacist medication order review services are needed to improve patients' pharmaceutical care.