Evaluation of Medication Reconciliation Process in post-operative patients at Surgical Wards and Eye Ear Nose Throat Wards in Mahasarakham Hospital
Abstract
Abstract
Objective : To evaluate the outcomes of medication reconciliation (MR) in patients undergoing surgery at the Surgery and the Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) departments of Mahasarakham Hospital.
Design and Methods : This was a descriptive study. Data were collected using a Medication Reconciliation form from 482 patients at three stages: admission, post-operation, and discharge. The study period was from October 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.
Results : Percentage of patients who completed the Medication Coordination (MR) process within 24 hours was 81.20%. A total of 156 medication errors (MEs) involving 569 drug items were identified. At admission, the ME rate was 2.23%, primarily due to patients not receiving their home medications or being prescribed drugs that were previously discontinued. Post-operation, the ME rate was 4.09%, resulting from patients not having their home medications continued after surgery, or incorrect dosage/frequency. At discharge, the ME rate was 15.28%, caused by patients not receiving their home medications from the post-operative period through to discharge. The severity of the identified errors was mostly Category B (97.5%) and Category C (2.47%). The predicted severity, had these errors not been corrected, was estimated to be Category D (97.89%) and Category E (2.11%). The medications most frequently involved were warfarin, antihypertensives, and antidiabetic drugs. The total relative weight score for managing pharmacotherapy problems was 3,200 points, with a quality score of 5.62.
Conclusion : Medication reconciliation in surgical patients helps ensure the continuity of their home medications before and after surgery, thereby preventing and reducing the severity of medication errors.
Keyword : Medication Reconciliation, Medication Error, Post operation
