A systematic review and appraisal of the patient's drug-related needs

Completed for the purpose of:

• assuring that all the patient's drug therapy is appropriately indicated,
• the most effective available and the safest possible;
• assuring that the patient is able and willing to comply with the pharmacotherapeutic regimen,
• and identifying drug therapy problems

It's one of three steps in the patient care process in the practise of pharmaceutical care (the care plan and the follow-up evaluation complete the process)