ORIGINAL ARTICLES Assessment of Drug History Information in Referral Letters to the Antiretroviral Therapy Outpatient Specialist Clinic of a Federal Teaching Hospital in Ilorin

West Afr J Med . 2023 Apr 28;40(4):362-366

Abstract

Abstract  in English, French

Background: The drug use history of a patient is an essential component of a referral letter to a specialist clinic. It guides and enables appropriate patient management while improving the quality of care rendered. There is insufficient data regarding the quality of drug history information in referral letters in this setting.

Objective: To assess the adequacy of the information on drug history in referral letters received at the antiretroviral therapy (ART) specialist outpatient clinic at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin.

Methods: In a retrospective study conducted between January and June 2022, all referral letters received at the ART clinic on clinic days were reviewed for drug history information provided using a data capture form.

Results: A total of 142 referrals were reviewed and analyzed. The majority (99.3%) of the referral provided information on patients' socio-demographic characteristics. Most of the referrals (47.2%) were from Family medicine department of the hospital and information on drug history was only provided in 43.0% of the referral letters.

Conclusion: This study concluded that drug history information was infrequently and incompletely documented in referral letters to an ART outpatient clinic. The use of a structured referral form may be useful and may help to improve the documentation of information on drug history by the referring doctor.

Keywords: Antiretroviral; Drug; Information; Nigeria.