Table 2.

Problems identified in medication review reports and recommendations of medication changes based on medication reviews and primary healthcare team discussions

Problems identified in medication review reports	% of problems N = 602
Condition caused by adverse drug reaction	16.9%
Sub-optimal monitoring	16.3%
Label discrepancy/other adherence difficulties, e.g. drug not taken as indicated by label or in patient profile (apparent non-concordance), under or overuse reported by patient, administration aid or device not effective	12.8%
Disorder treated with wrong (or suboptimal) drug	9.3%
Over- or subtherapeutic dosage of correct drug	9.3%
Condition caused by drug–drug, drug–food, drug–laboratory test interaction	9.1%
Other	7.8%
Untreated indication	6.3%
Sub-optimal drug administration	3.8%
Drug use without valid medical indication	3.5%
Poor medication knowledge	1.7%
Medication hoarding or poor storage of medication	2.5%
Problem associated with drug supply	0.5%
No problem stated	0.2%
Actions suggested following medication reviews and primary health care team discussions	% of actions suggested N = 747
Monitoring – laboratory	21.0%
Change drug – substitute one drug for another	12.6%
Other, e.g. resolve non-concordance between patient-reported and GP-recorded drug regimen (4.4% of N); further investigation of potential ADE (1.6% of N)	11.9%
Provision of patient (or carer) education or information	10.4%
Cease drug or trial withdrawal to confirm need for treatment	9.5%
Change dose, dosage interval or frequency	8.7%
Add a drug	6.4%
No recommendation made	6.4%
Monitoring observation and non-lab monitoring	5.0%
Change administration time, route or dose form	3.5%
Rationalize medications held in the home	1.7%
Non-drug therapy suggested	1.5%
Other intervention to improve adherence	0.8%
Refer patient to another professional	0.5%

Feedback for 110 patients. Note there are more recommendations than problems, because the reviewing pharmacist sometimes suggested a range of possible interventions.