Frequency and characteristics of hospital admissions associated with drug‐related problems in paediatrics

Aim To determine the frequency of paediatric hospital admissions associated with drug‐related problems (DRPs) at two Australian hospitals. Methods The investigator and ward pharmacists prospectively screened eligible patients. A multidisciplinary panel reviewed data and established causality, preventability and clinical significance classifications. Results Over 22 weeks of data collection, a total of 11 564 patients were admitted, 2933 met eligibility criteria. Of those eligible, 127 [4.3%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.6, 5.0] were judged to have hospital admissions associated with DRPs. Direct costs associated with DRPs identified totalled £100 707. Of the 81 cases assessed for preventability, 46.9% were deemed preventable. Conclusions This research has provided information on the nature and characteristics of paediatric DRPs associated with hospital admissions.