Pharmacy practice in hospital settings in GCC countries: Prescribing and transcribing

• Published in: Saudi pharmaceutical journal Vol. 29; no. 9; pp. 1021 - 1028
• Main Authors: Al-jedai, Ahmed H., Khurshid, Fowad, Mayet, Ahmed Y., Al-Omar, Hussain A., Alghanem, Sarah S., Alsultan, Mohammed S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Saudi Arabia Elsevier B.V 01.09.2021; Elsevier
• Subjects: Ambulatory care; Anticoagulation; Formulary; Medication therapy; Original; Stewardship; FMEA; ASHP; DOACs; GCC; MTM; Stewardship; Anticoagulation; Formulary; Medication therapy; LMWHs; HER; SPS; CPOE; ASP; Ambulatory care; P&T; MTM, Medication Therapy Management; LMWHs, Low molecular- weight heparins; ASHP, American Society of Health-System Pharmacist; ASP, Antimicrobial stewardship program; DOACs, Direct oral anticoagulants; CPOE, Computerized prescriber order entry; P&T, Pharmacy and therapeutics committee; FMEA, Failure mode and effects analysis; GCC, Gulf Cooperation Councils; SPS, Saudi Pharmaceutical Society; HER, Electronic health record
• ISSN: 1319-0164; 2213-7475
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2021.07.013

To outline hospital pharmacy practices across the Gulf Cooperation Councils (GCC) countries’ hospitals. A modified survey questionnaire was prepared from the original 2019 American Society of Health-System Pharmacist (ASHP) survey questions. Survey details were discussed with some pharmacy directors for clarity and relevance. A list of hospitals were obtained from the Ministry of Health of each of the targeted GCC countries. A secure invitation link containing a survey questionnaire was sent to the participants directly. Sixty four hospitals responded to this survey. The overall response rate was 52%. About 47% of the surveyed hospitals considered their drug formularies as closed, and strict. Additionally, only 44% of hospitals compare the effectiveness of products, when taking formulary decisions for drug inclusion. Forty-four percent of hospitals have computerized prescriber order entry (CPOE / EHR) system functionality for formulary system management. At about 39.1% hospitals, pharmacists have the responsibility for managing medication therapies, majority were engaged in providing anticoagulation therapies. About 61% of hospital pharmacies in GCC countries receive medication orders electronically, through CPOE/EHR. Majority (66%) of the hospitals in GCC countries have an active Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) while only 40% of pharmacists have a key role in providing clinical support. About 57.8% of hospital pharmacy directors reported that pharmacists do not provide ambulatory care clinical pharmacy servicesin their hospitals. In GCC countries’ hospitals, there are major areas for improvement to patient care of which pharmacists are uniquely qualified as the medication experts to have the most meaningful outcomes in all of the domains of safe medication use, medication therapy management, antimicrobial stewardship program and participation in outpatient clinics.