Why is a drug utilization review (DUR) conducted in pharmacies?

Conducting a drug utilization review (DUR) in pharmacies is primarily intended to assess medication therapy appropriateness. This process involves evaluating a patient’s medication regimen to ensure that the drugs prescribed are suitable for their specific medical condition, that there are no contraindications or potential interactions among the medications, and that the dosages are appropriate based on the patient’s age, weight, organ function, and other factors.

The DUR process plays a critical role in promoting safe and effective medication use, helping to identify issues that could lead to adverse effects or ineffective treatment outcomes. It ensures that the pharmacist can provide recommendations to optimize the patient's therapy and enhance their overall health outcome.

While other tasks such as evaluating customer service quality, determining pricing strategies, and improving inventory management are important aspects of pharmacy operations, they do not encompass the primary objective of a DUR. This process is specifically designed to focus on medication safety and efficacy, which is vital in fostering positive therapeutic outcomes for patients.