Effect of pharmacist-led medication review on drug-related problems among outpatients undergoing elective surgery at a tertiary care hospital: A retrospective study

Few studies have examined drug-related problems among patients before surgery, including the influence of herbal supplements and dietary products on anaesthetic and surgery outcomes. The primary objective was to measure the prevalence of drug-related problems in outpatients before surgery. The secondary objectives were to investigate the types of herbal supplements and dietary products that might affect anaesthetic and surgical outcomes. Additional aims included exploring factors influencing drug-related problems. This retrospective study was conducted at the preoperative assessment centre. Outpatients aged 18 years or older, who were scheduled for elective surgery, were enrolled. Of 1,440 patients, 27.5% had at least one drug-related problem. The most common category involved medication appropriateness, with herbal supplements and dietary products being the most frequently implicated, particularly among females and those aged 60 years or older (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis also showed a trend towards an increased occurrence of drug-related problems in patients aged 60 years or older. The findings of this study suggest that pharmacist-led medication review in pre-operative patients may be an effective method to reduce surgical risks associated with medications, herbal supplements, and dietary products; prevent surgical postponement; and optimize the management of chronic diseases, particularly in elderly patients.