Role of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Medication Safety, Physicians Perception, and Practice
Khaled Alhusayni
Taif University, King Abdulaziz Specialist Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
Ibrahim Dighriri *
Jazan University, King Abdulaziz Specialist Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
Abdullah Althomali
Taif University, King Faisal Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
Abdulaziz Alkhammash
Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
Faisal Alharthi
Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
Adel Alharthi
Albaha University, King Abdulaziz Specialist Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
Theaar Alotaibi
Albaha University, King Faisal Hospital, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Saeed Alzahrani
Albaha University, Alqara General Hospital, Albaha, Saudi Arabia.
Abdulrahman Hommadi
Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
Fahad Rajab
Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
Majed Alfaifi
Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
Ibrahim Mobarki
Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
Sultan Alrubaiei
Batterjee Medical College, King Abdulaziz Specialist Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
Rasha Alqahtani
King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
Shaden Bin Howimel
Shaqra University, Dawadmi, Saudi Arabia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Introduction: Patients admitted to the hospital will receive various drugs, each carrying the risk of error. Medication errors concern our healthcare system, especially considering the relatively high number of patients admitted to hospitals. Assuming that each patient receives at least two medications twice a day, the likelihood of a medication error is considerable. Therefore, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) focuses on measuring blood medication levels and plays a crucial role in medication safety.
Aims: This study aimed to determine the effect of TDM in ensuring the safety of medications in many Taif hospitals. Also, to enhance the safety and quality of drug use and reflect physician perception and practice regarding TDM.
Methodology: A prospective cross-sectional study consisting of questionnaires was conducted to physicians at many of Taif's governmental hospitals between March and May 2021. Questionnaires evaluated three parts: physician demographics, physician perception about TDM, and physician practices regarding TDM. The collected data were processed using the Excel program.
Results: More than 80% of the interviewed physicians agreed that TDM is a tool that can guide the clinician to provide effective and safe drug therapy in the individual patient. Approximately 77% agreed that TDM is a team of decision-making groups. Around 25% of physicians performed TDM weekly, 22% monthly, and 10% daily. The medications that participating physicians ordered TDM were digoxin (30%), carbamazepine (21%), and gentamycin (17%). The participants had a limited understanding of the advantages of TDM in terms of drug safety and welfare.
Conclusion: The number of actual drug errors occurs in the healthcare systems. Therefore, must establishment of TDM in hospitals. Medical administration and physicians must cooperate with the clinical pharmacist. Also, establish workshops for health practitioners to educate them about the role of TDM and pharmacokinetic laboratories in controlling the therapeutic process.
Keywords: Therapeutic drug monitoring, medication safety, physician’s knowledge, Doctors perception