AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the rates and types of drug prescription and administration errors in one pediatric nephrology ward, comparing two dispensing schemes: the first one defined as handwritten prescription plus ward stock distribution system (WSDS), and the second one as computerized prescription plus unit dose drug dispensing system (UDDDS). METHOD: Data were collected over an 8-week period, from 1 February to 31 March 1999. Two fifth-year pharmacy students photocopied prescription and administration documents on the ward each day, under the supervision of a senior pharmacist. The medical record analysis was used to compare the prescription with the administration report. Prescribing and administration medication errors were classified according to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. RESULTS: Prescribing errors: overall, for both dispensing schemes, a total of 511 prescriptions, resulting in 4532 prescribed drugs (an average of 9 drugs per prescription) were prescribed. The total prescription error rate was 20.7% (937 of 4532), resulting in 1.9 errors per patient per day. The computerized prescription error rate was 10.6% (419 of 3943), the handwritten prescription error rate was 87.9% (518 of 589). This difference was very significant (P < 0.0001). ADMINISTRATION ERRORS: The total opportunity of administration errors was 4589 (sum of administered and omitted drugs). The total administration error rate was 23.5% (1077 of 4589) including wrong administration time, and 11.7% (538 of 4589) excluding administration time. The administration error rate, including administration associated with time errors, was only 22.5% (888 of 3943) for computerized prescription + UDDDS, compared with 29.3% (189 of 646) for handwritten prescriptions plus WSDS (P < 0.001). Excluding administration associated with time errors, the administration error rates were 9.7% and 24.3%, respectively (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The drug prescription and administration error rates were significantly decreased using computerized prescription plus UDDDS as compared with handwritten prescription plus WSDS in a pediatric unit (even with potential biases taken into account).
AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the rates and types of drug prescription and administration errors in one pediatric nephrology ward, comparing two dispensing schemes: the first one defined as handwritten prescription plus ward stock distribution system (WSDS), and the second one as computerized prescription plus unit dose drug dispensing system (UDDDS). METHOD: Data were collected over an 8-week period, from 1 February to 31 March 1999. Two fifth-year pharmacy students photocopied prescription and administration documents on the ward each day, under the supervision of a senior pharmacist. The medical record analysis was used to compare the prescription with the administration report. Prescribing and administration medication errors were classified according to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. RESULTS: Prescribing errors: overall, for both dispensing schemes, a total of 511 prescriptions, resulting in 4532 prescribed drugs (an average of 9 drugs per prescription) were prescribed. The total prescription error rate was 20.7% (937 of 4532), resulting in 1.9 errors per patient per day. The computerized prescription error rate was 10.6% (419 of 3943), the handwritten prescription error rate was 87.9% (518 of 589). This difference was very significant (P < 0.0001). ADMINISTRATION ERRORS: The total opportunity of administration errors was 4589 (sum of administered and omitted drugs). The total administration error rate was 23.5% (1077 of 4589) including wrong administration time, and 11.7% (538 of 4589) excluding administration time. The administration error rate, including administration associated with time errors, was only 22.5% (888 of 3943) for computerized prescription + UDDDS, compared with 29.3% (189 of 646) for handwritten prescriptions plus WSDS (P < 0.001). Excluding administration associated with time errors, the administration error rates were 9.7% and 24.3%, respectively (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The drug prescription and administration error rates were significantly decreased using computerized prescription plus UDDDS as compared with handwritten prescription plus WSDS in a pediatric unit (even with potential biases taken into account).
Authors: Elizabeth A Flynn; Kenneth N Barker; Ginette A Pepper; David W Bates; Robert L Mikeal Journal: Am J Health Syst Pharm Date: 2002-03-01 Impact factor: 2.637
Authors: Indra Chedoe; Harry A Molendijk; Suzanne T A M Dittrich; Frank G A Jansman; Johannes W Harting; Jacobus R B J Brouwers; Katja Taxis Journal: Drug Saf Date: 2007 Impact factor: 5.606
Authors: Fern FitzHenry; Josh F Peterson; Mark Arrieta; Lemuel R Waitman; Jonathan S Schildcrout; Randolph A Miller Journal: J Am Med Inform Assoc Date: 2007-08-21 Impact factor: 4.497
Authors: Thilo Bertsche; Dorothee Niemann; Yvonne Mayer; Katrin Ingram; Torsten Hoppe-Tichy; Walter E Haefeli Journal: Pharm World Sci Date: 2008-09-12
Authors: Carmen Guadalupe Rodriguez-Gonzalez; Ana Herranz-Alonso; Maria Luisa Martin-Barbero; Esther Duran-Garcia; Maria Isabel Durango-Limarquez; Paloma Hernández-Sampelayo; Maria Sanjurjo-Saez Journal: J Am Med Inform Assoc Date: 2011-09-02 Impact factor: 4.497