STARZ-DRP: A TOOL FOR PHARMACY TRIAGE SERVICES

  Objective: The aims of this study are to demonstrate a feasibility study, using an approach, known as STARZ-DRP to counsel people about health complaints and identify drug-related problem (DRPs).Methods: This study involved community pharmacists (CPs) in the state of Penang, Malaysia, randomly selected as study and control groups, recruiting patients to involve in this study according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, excepting for control group which were conducted by trained interviewers. The patients had to involve in two-phase study, baseline and post-study. The study pharmacists had been trained to follow the framework known as STARZ-DRP.Results: Nine CPs agreed to involve in this study, were randomly selected as study (n=5) and control (n=4), recruiting 617 and 636 patients (study, control) accordingly. More male (study = 52.7%; control = 58.2%) were recruited. Cough (study = 23.0%) and nasal problem (control = 29.9%) were indicated as the highest chief complaint by the patients. 81.8% and 37.1% of study and control patients should be referred to general practitioners. Significant differences were observed when comparing the mean ± standard deviation of DRPs between the groups and baseline versus post-study.Conclusion: STARZ-DRP is promoted as a tool to make triaging decision with evidence base at community pharmacy settings.