The impact of clinical pharmacists’ intervention on the rational use of intravenous paracetamol vials in Baghdad Teaching Hospital: A case-control study

Abstract

Paracetamol has been recognized worldwide as a safe and effective agent for relieving pain and reducing fever in many patients. This study aimed to investigate the role of clinical pharmacist interventions in the rational and appropriate use of intravenous paracetamol in surgical patients and the impact of this rational use on hospital costs. A case-control study was conducted on 794 patients (400 in the intervention group and 394 in the control group). The appropriate and rational use of the drug was compared between baseline and post-intervention in the intervention group and between the two groups. The result showed a significant reduction in dispensed IV paracetamol vials after the pharmaceutical intervention (4,151 vials recovered by the intervention), which led to a reduction in the cost (8,302 USD reduction in the total cost). There was a significant reduction in the dose of IV paracetamol, use with or without adjunctive opioid analgesics, frequency of administration, duration of intravenous paracetamol use, daily max exceeding 4 g, and concomitant use with oral paracetamol after applying the clinical pharmacist intervention. In conclusion, the clinical pharmacist plays a vital role in various aspects of healthcare; clinical pharmacist involvement positively impacts the patient’s management plan by improving the optimal and rational use of intravenous paracetamol and decreasing hospital costs.