Development of a System to Prevent Repeated Drug Allergies Outpatient Services at Lerdsin Hospital

Abstract

Background: Adverse reactions from repeat drug allergies can lead to more severe and dangerous symptoms. The main causes often stem from inadequate communication between healthcare providers and patients, as well as insufficiently detailed patient allergy history checks. Additionally, inconsistencies in drug allergy documentation within hospital information systems contribute to incomplete data transfers. Implementing an efficient patient identification system and standardized methods for recording and communicating can help prevent repeated drug allergies. Objectives: To develop a system for preventing repeat drug allergies and to evaluate the outcomes of the system. Methods: The study was a research and development project consisting of three steps: 1) improvement of workflow efficiency; 2) enhancement of patient identification forms; and 3) development of guidelines for entering drug allergy data into the hospital information system (HIS). Data collection at Lerdsin Hospital, Outpatient Services, Pharmacy Department, from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023. Results: The number of patients whose history was taken by a pharmacist and recorded in the hospital information system before the patient was seen by a pharmacist in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 was 2.46, 5.1, 5.02, and 7.27 per thousand prescriptions, respectively. The number of times the patient has a history of allergic drug prescribing outside the hospital is found. In 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, they were 0.27, 0.21, 0.27, and 0.09 per thousand prescriptions, respectively. Prescriptions for allergic drugs in the same group in 2022 and 2023 were 0.6 and 0.15 times per thousand prescriptions, respectively. Cross-prescribing of allergic drugs in 2022 and 2023 was 1.51 and 0.37 per thousand prescriptions, respectively. Conclusion: The improvement and development of the system for preventing repeat drug allergies have not only led to a reduction in the risk of patients receiving the same allergic drugs again but can also prevent the prescription of allergies within the same group and cross-reactivity medications.