OBJECTIVE: To estimate the incidence of, and the variables affecting, illegible drug prescriptions in the United States. METHODS: Illegible notations of medications (ie, drug mentions) on the patient record form used for data collection in the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey from 1990 to 1998 were used as a proxy for the incidence of illegible prescriptions in the United States. RESULTS: The average incidence of illegible mentions was 1.44%. Increased age of patient, female sex, urban practice setting, increased number of diagnoses and prescriptions written during the visit and seeing a family physician or internist were associated with an increased probability of at least 1 illegible drug mention. CONCLUSION: Distinct characteristics are associated with a higher incidence of illegible prescriptions. Multiple diagnoses and an increased number of prescriptions, both of which contribute to the complexity of a patient visit, are especially likely to be associated with at least 1 illegible prescription per visit. Physicians need to recognize factors contributing to illegible prescriptions to maintain high standards of care.
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the incidence of, and the variables affecting, illegible drug prescriptions in the United States. METHODS: Illegible notations of medications (ie, drug mentions) on the patient record form used for data collection in the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey from 1990 to 1998 were used as a proxy for the incidence of illegible prescriptions in the United States. RESULTS: The average incidence of illegible mentions was 1.44%. Increased age of patient, female sex, urban practice setting, increased number of diagnoses and prescriptions written during the visit and seeing a family physician or internist were associated with an increased probability of at least 1 illegible drug mention. CONCLUSION: Distinct characteristics are associated with a higher incidence of illegible prescriptions. Multiple diagnoses and an increased number of prescriptions, both of which contribute to the complexity of a patient visit, are especially likely to be associated with at least 1 illegible prescription per visit. Physicians need to recognize factors contributing to illegible prescriptions to maintain high standards of care.