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. 2020 Apr;8(2):e00583.
doi: 10.1002/prp2.583.

Retrospective assessment of acute poisoning incidents by pharmaceutical agents in Jordan: Data from Pharmacy One™ Poison Call Center, 2014 to 2018-Part II

Alaa Yehya  1 , Dima Albals  2 , Reem Issa  2 , Aida Fawadleh  3
Affiliations

Retrospective assessment of acute poisoning incidents by pharmaceutical agents in Jordan: Data from Pharmacy One™ Poison Call Center, 2014 to 2018-Part II

Alaa Yehya et al. Pharmacol Res Perspect. 2020 Apr.

Abstract

Poison control centers provide surveillance data that can be used to estimate the magnitude of poisoning cases and the level of public awareness and to evaluate control measures. The aim of this study is to describe the drug-related poisoning queries received by the Pharmacy One™ Poisoning Call Center (P1 PCC) in Jordan. This is a retrospective descriptive study of the acute drug-related poisoning incidents in the Jordanian population recorded by the P1 PCC during the 2014-2018 period. The inquiries received were recorded on a predesigned form. The demographic data, including the age and the sex of the patient, the route of and reason for exposure and the drug therapeutic groups, in addition to medical outcomes, were extracted utilizing computerized Oracle and Excel spreadsheets. During the period of evaluation, 900 drug-related poisoning incidents were reported to the P1 PCC. The majority of calls (48.5%) were received via 911, followed by the public (48.56%) and healthcare professionals (27.1%). More than half of the poisoning incidents were recorded among males (52.5%). Adults were the most affected group (40.5%), followed by children (34.0%). Unintentional exposure was the most common cause of poisoning (58.6%), followed by suicide attempts (25.3%). Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and paracetamol caused the majority of the reported cases. Poisoning incidents were mainly classified as mild to moderate (56.1%), while only 16.6% were severe. The P1 PCC has demonstrated an important and vital role in improving patient safety and providing education on rational drug use. Reflections on these data can be used to increase public awareness in promoting the rational use of medications among Jordanian citizens.

Keywords: Jordan; Pharmacy One™; Poison Control Center; drug poisoning; pharmaceutical products; pharmacist.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Drugs involved in all drug poisoning incidents during the 2014‐2018 period (n = 900)
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Drugs involved in drug poisoning incidents with severe outcomes during the 2014‐2018 period (n = 32)
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Distribution of callers to P1PCC during the 2014‐2018 period (n = 900)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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