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Audit; Sick Day Rule advice in patient’s prescribed SGLT2 inhibitors.

Hannah KIELTY and Finola MINIHAN

Sick day rules are critical guidelines that help patients manage their prescribed medications safely during periods of acute illness, such as vomiting, or dehydration. These rules are especially important for individuals with chronic conditions. Failure to adjust or withhold certain medications during illnesses can lead to serious complications, including hypoglycaemia, or hypotension. Despite their importance, awareness of sick day rules remains low among patients and healthcare providers.The aim of this audit is to identify patients taking SGLT2 inhibitors, increase awareness for patients by using patient information leaflets, and for healthcare providers by using pop up alerts on charts. We hoped that with this audit and the implementation of changes we would hit a target of 90% of our patients on SGLT2 inhibitors having sick day rules discussed and information provided. Although this target was not achieved, we did achieve a significant improvement.We used SOCRATES software system to identify patients on SGLT2 inhibitors. Notes, and medication review entries were reviewed and an audit spreadsheet was completed. We designed a template information sheet to be accessed through their patient file and provided to them on the day of review. We also introduce a pop-up alert on the patient’s chart to remind healthcare staff to discuss Sick Day Rules.In August 2024, 76 patients were included in our audit. On reaudit in March 2025, we had 74 patients included. We increasesd our Sick Day rule discussions from 21% to 53% during this audit time period. Written information provided increased from 19% to 87%This highlights the lack of appropriate advice provided to patients re Sick Day rules, focusing on SGLT2 inhibitors. Once particular measures were introduced to support healthcare professionals in providing this advice with memory aids, and take home leaflets, this led to an increase in discussions.We continue to offer patient leaflets re Sick Day Rules.  We will continue to use alerts to remind staff to provide advice. We will incorporate SGLT2 inhibitor sick day advice into structured medication review templates and also recommend that a pop- up alert be introduced at time of first prescribing of SGLT2 inhibitors.