Evaluation of prescribing medication errors in a pediatric outpatient pharmacy
Journal Title: International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health - Year 2017, Vol 6, Issue 11
Abstract
Background: The use of medication is a complex process and the health-care providers discovered more problems facing this process at different many stages including prescriber, pharmacists, and finally patients. It is expected that the rate of errors in prescriptions will be higher for pediatrics compared with other population due to multiple factors (e.g., medications dosing, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics). Objective: To evaluate the pattern of medication prescribing errors in the pediatric outpatient clinics and assess the type of prescribing errors. In addition, to evaluate the most prevalent type of medication category that is associated with prescribing errors. Materials and Methods: In our study, all outpatient prescriptions that were processed and dispensed for pediatric patients (<14 years old), flagged with medication clarification record were retrieved to be included in the analysis. Demographic data (age, gender, allergy status, and diagnosis), in addition to medication and error characteristics (number of medication per prescription, number of medication prescribing error per prescription, types of medication prescribing error), and medications category (e.g., antimicrobials, cardiac, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, analgesics, electrolytes, and topical) were collected. Results: Results showed that the most common type of medication errors was missing diagnosis in the prescription and incorrect dose with 59.6% and 54.1%, respectively. The mean age of both genders was 5.5 years (±4.3). The most common categories of medication involved were neurological medications, antipyretic, analgesic, and antimicrobials with 20.8%, 17.5%, and 15%, respectively. The number of high-alert medications in the detected medication/s error was 0.60%. Conclusion: The rate of documented pediatric outpatient prescribing errors by outpatient pharmacists was was 0.57%. In which, missing diagnosis was the most common type of prescribing errors followed by incorrect dose. In addition, the highest medication group that has prescribing error is neurological medications followed by analgesics.
Authors and Affiliations
Khalid Alsulaiman, Majed Aljeraisy, Shmeylan Alharbi, Ibrahim Alsulaihim, Maha Almolaiki
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP332800
- DOI 10.5455/ijmsph.2017.0718621092017
- Views 78
- Downloads 0
Comparison of post operative analgesia with Fentanyl and Sulfentanil via epidural route in thoracic and upper abdominal surgeries
Background: Post - operative analgesia has been considered very important for patient in terms of early mobilization and prevention of complications. Opioid analgesics have long been recognized as among the most eff...
Risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders among medical laboratories professionals
Background: Laboratory health-care workers, including pathologist, microbiologists, and technicians, are exposed to number of risk factors in the workplace for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). However, the individual im...
A cross-sectional study to assess the knowledge and practices about breastfeeding among women in Sembakkam village, Kancheepuram District
Background: Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival. Lack of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) during the first 6 months of life contributes to over a million avoidable child death...
Reasons for road traffic accidents—victims’ perspective
Background: Worldwide, the number of people killed in road traffic accidents each year is estimated at almost 1.2 million, whereas the number injured is believed to be as high as 50 million—the combined population...
Assessment of anti-coagulation knowledge in Sudanese patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation
Background: The most prevalent heart rhythm disorder in clinical practice is atrial fibrillation (AF) and is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and preventable stroke, accou...