Development of a Trigger Tool for Monitoring Adverse Drug Events in Dispensing Pharmacy Service through Concept Mapping

Abstract

Objective: To develop a trigger tool for monitoring adverse drug events in dispensing pharmacy services through concept mapping. Method: The research design was a mixed method study. Participants in the development of the trigger were 20 pharmacists in the pharmacy department at a hospital in the northeast region who worked in dispensing services for outpatients and inpatients, and 4 faculty members of Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahasarakham University. The participants met to determine the focus question for collecting trigger tools, and then offered answers to the focus question in the questionnaire. The second meeting was organized to consider the obtained answers, then, the agreed upon answers were present to the participants for grouping and rating the practicality and their relation to adverse drug event. Subsequently, the data on grouping was analyzed using multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis. Scores on practicality and relation to adverse drug events were submitted to quadrant analysis to obtain a concept map. Results: The number of obtained triggers was 21 in 5 groups including 1) drug allergy 2) drug-induced diseases 3) dose adjustment in kidney disease 4) triggers concerning potassium and 5) drug overdose. Conclusion: Obtained trigger tools covered a list of drugs and laboratory tests applicable to use in dispensing pharmacy services. Therefore, the effectiveness of the trigger tools in identifying adverse drug events should be studied.