DRUG THERAPY PROBLEMS AND THEIR PREDICTORS AMONG HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS ON FOLLOW UP IN DIL-CHORA REFERRAL HOSPITAL, DIRE-DAWA, ETHIOPIA

Background: The objective of this study was to assess drug therapy problems (DTPs) and their predictors among hypertensive patients on follow up at Dil-Chora Referral Hospital, Ethiopia. Methods: Hospital based cross-sectional study involving medical record review was conducted from February-to-April 2015 using a structured questionnaire and this was complemented by a face-to-face interview. Adult hypertensive patients aged ≥18 years who were on follow-up for at least 3-months were enrolled in the study using a convenient sampling method. Data analysis was done using SPSS software version 16.0. Multiple logistic regressions were fitted and odds ratios with 95%CI were calculated to identify factors associated with DTPs. Results: The study included 271 hypertensive patients. Mean age was 57.73±12.13. One hundred sixty three (60.1%) were females. More than half of the respondents (50.6%) had comorbid condition and diabetes was the most common. More than 71% of patients were found to have at least one DTP and the mean number of DTPs per patient was 1.39±1.28. Need additional drug therapy(62.4%) and non-adherence(32.8%) were the two most common DTPs. Presence of comorbidity (AOR=5.74, 95%CI; 2.49-13.00), taking ≥3 medications per day (AOR=7.04, 95%CI; 2.33-21.25), and uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) (AOR=7.68, 95%CI; 3.70-15.90) were factors associated with DTPs. Conclusions: DTPs are common among hypertensive patients on follow up and the most common were need additional drug therapy and non-adherence to medications. Pharmacist interventions in drug therapy would help physicians in early identification and prevention of DTPs so that a joint effort between physicians and pharmacists should be made.