Introducing clinical pharmacy services to cardiovascular clinics at a university hospital in Northern Cyprus

Background Clinical pharmacists are the primary source of scientifically valid information and advice on the safe, rational, and cost-effective use of medications. However, ward-based clinical pharmacy services are not well optimized in Northern Cyprus. Objective Ward based clinical pharmacy services were introduced and evaluated in cardiovascular clinics. Setting Cardiology and cardiovascular surgery departments in a tertiary university hospital. Methods A prospective interventional study introduced and documented clinical pharmacy services for 120 days. Drug-related problems were classified using the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe PCNE DRP classification tool V6.2. Main outcome measure Interventions proposed and acceptance rate of recommendations. Results A total of 133 patients were reviewed, and, 81 patients had drug-related problems. Only 402 (93.1%) of the 432 suggested interventions were accepted and regarded as clinically relevant. Drug-related problems primarily involved antihypertensive, diuretic, and antithrombotic agents. Treatment effectiveness was the major type of drug-related problems (107; 49.3%) followed by adverse drug reactions (74; 34.1%). Drug dose and selection were the most frequent causes of drug-related problems. Add/change/stop medications were the most common types of intervention at the prescriber level. A total of 171 (78.8%) of the identified 217 drug-related problems were solved, 4 (1.8%) of the problems were partially solved, 32 (14.7%) problems were unsolved, and 10 (4.6%) problems had unknown outcomes. Conclusion Clinical pharmacy services may have optimized therapy effectiveness and prevent adverse effects. The pharmacist interventions were highly accepted by cardiologists; this may indicate the presence of a great opportunity and need to optimize and implement CPS in other hospitals in Northern Cyprus.