Research Information System
Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 2025 (SSCI, Scopus)
Background The role of pharmacists in emergency departments (EDs) has undergone a significant transformation globally, expanding beyond traditional responsibilities to include various clinical activities that promise to enhance patient outcomes. However, the full potential of these interventions, particularly from economic, clinical, and humanistic (ECHO) perspectives, remains to be systematically explored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of pharmacist-led interventions on ECHO among patients admitted to the ED. Methods This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Searches were conducted in PubMed, MEDLINE, and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, focusing on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in English that involved pharmacist interventions in EDs. Data were extracted on study design, pharmacist interventions, and patient outcomes. Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2.0) was used. Results Twelve RCTs that met the inclusion criteria were identified. The studies were conducted predominantly in tertiary care settings in various countries. The most common interventions performed by pharmacists included medication reconciliation, obtaining medication histories, and patient education. The review showed that pharmacist interventions tend to improve medication safety and patient satisfaction but varied significantly in their execution and reported outcomes. No studies comprehensively analyzed economic outcomes, and only a few addressed humanistic outcomes. Conclusions Pharmacy-led services improved clinical outcomes, however there was lack of studies showing the economic and humanistic outcomes of these services. The need for standardized protocols and further research to establish their broader impacts should be considered. The findings support the continued integration and expansion of pharmacist roles in emergency care, which could influence global policy and practice in healthcare systems.