Abstract

PHARMACIST-LED MEDICATION RECONCILIATION: EVALUATING IMPACT ON PATIENT OUTCOMES ACROSS HEALTHCARE SETTINGS, A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS

Mohamed Abdellatif*, Mohammed Alfar and Amira AL Bahsani

ABSTRACT

Background: Medication reconciliation is crucial for ensuring patient safety during transitions in healthcare. Pharmacist-led interventions have been proposed as effective strategies to address medication errors. Objective: This systematic review aims to assess the impact of pharmacist-led medication reconciliation programs on patient care outcomes. Methods: Ten randomized controlled trials were included, following PRISMA guidelines. Data extraction covered study characteristics, participant demographics, interventions, comparators, outcomes, and quality assessment. Results: Pharmacist-led interventions significantly reduced adverse drug events (ADEs) (p < 0.05), hospitalizations secondary to ADEs (p < 0.05), and medication discrepancies (p < 0.05) compared to controls. Significant differences were observed in medication appropriateness (p < 0.05) and adherence (p < 0.05). Quality assessment indicated low risk of bias across studies. Conclusion: Pharmacist-led medication reconciliation programs demonstrate effectiveness in improving patient outcomes, including reducing ADEs, hospitalizations, and medication discrepancies. Standardized protocols and increased pharmacist involvement are recommended to optimize patient care. Further research is needed to explore the nuanced effects of these interventions across diverse patient populations and clinical settings.

Keywords: medication reconciliation, pharmacist, pharmacist intervention, hospital admission, hospital discharge, ward transfer.