Evaluación de la gestión de recetas en un servicio farmacéutico de un hospital especializado / Evaluation of prescription management in a specialty hospital pharmacy service

error de medicación es cualquier incidente prevenible que puede causar daño al paciente o dar lugar a una utilización inapropiada de los medicamentos, cuando estos están bajo el control de los profesionales sanitarios o del paciente, con potenciales consecuencias para estos últimos. En Paraguay las enfermedades respiratorias crónicas (EPOC, asma, etc.), junto con la diabetes, los problemas cardiovasculares y el cáncer son responsables de una alta morbi-mortalidad, registrando una prevalencia que va en aumento. Esta investigación tuvo el objetivo de evaluar las recetas prescriptas en el consultorio externo de un hospital especializado en enfermedades respiratorias y dispensadas en la farmacia, gracias a un estudio observacional de corte transversal, retrospectivo, y un muestreo no probabilístico que consistió en la revisión de recetas médicas de pacientes que acudieron al consultorio del Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias y del Ambiente durante los meses de septiembre de 2015 y 2016. Los datos se registraron en planillas. Se analizaron 4828 recetas, de las cuales 2421 corresponden al mes de septiembre del 2015, y 2407 recetas que corresponden al mes de septiembre del 2016. Los errores técnicos de prescripción más frecuentes fueron la ilegibilidad y la ausencia de dosis e indicación. Por ello, se plantea la importancia de establecer un programa de gestión de riesgos en los hospitales, para implementar nuevas tecnologías que faciliten la prescripción.

Medication error is any preventable incident that may cause harm to the patient or result in inappropriate use of medications when these are under the control of healthcare professionals or the patient, with potential consequences for patients. In Paraguay, chronic respiratory diseases (COPD, asthma, etc. ), together with diabetes, cardiovascular problems, and cancer, are responsible for a high morbi-mortality in the country, with an increasing prevalence; therefore, this research aimed to evaluate the prescriptions that were prescribed in the outpatient clinic of a hospital specialized in respiratory diseases and dispensed in the pharmacy through a cross-sectional, retrospective, observational study and a non-probabilistic sampling, by convenience, which consisted of the review of medical prescriptions issued to patients of both sexes who attended the adult outpatient clinic of the National Institute of Respiratory and Environmental Diseases, during the months of September 2015 and 2016. The data were recorded in spreadsheets designed for this purpose, and a total of 4828 prescriptions were analyzed, of which 2421 correspond to the month of September 2015, with a total of 5955 drugs prescribed, and 2407 prescriptions correspond to the month of September 2016, with 6195 drugs prescribed. The most frequent technical prescription errors found in the prescriptions were the illegibility of the prescriptions and the absence of dosage and indication, being the most frequent errors for September 2015, and the absence of dosage and therapeutic indication (79.76 %)and illegibility of the prescription in September 2016 (87.00 %). Considering the legal requirements, the absence of diagnosis was the prevalent error (Sep-15: 64.19 %; Sep-16:60.08 %). This is why it is important to establish a risk management program in hospitals to implement new technologies that facilitate prescribing.

erro de medicação é qualquer incidente evitável que pode causar danos ao paciente ou resultar no uso inadequado de medicamentos, quando estes estão sob o controle dos profissionais de saúde ou do paciente, com potenciais consequências para os pacientes. No Paraguai, as doenças respiratórias crônicas (doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica, asma etc.), juntamente com o diabetes, os problemas cardiovasculares e o câncer são responsáveis por uma alta taxa de morbidade e mortalidade no país, com uma prevalência crescente. Portanto, esta pesquisa teve como objetivo avaliar as prescrições feitas no ambulatório de um hospital especializado em doenças respiratórias e dispensadas na farmácia por meio de um estudo observacional transversal, retrospectivo e de amostragem não probabilística por conveniência, que consistiu em uma revisão das prescrições emitidas para pacientes de ambos os sexos que frequentaram o ambulatório de adultos do Instituto Nacional de Doenças Respiratórias e Ambientais, em setembro de 2015 e 2016. Os dados foram registrados em planilhas elaboradas para esse fim, e foi analisado um total de 4.828 prescrições, das quais 2.421 correspondem ao mês de setembro de 2015, com um total de 5.955 medicamentos prescritos, e 2.407 prescrições correspondem ao mês de setembro de 2016, com 6.195 medicamentos prescritos. Os erros mais frequentes encontrados nas prescrições foram a ilegibilidade destas e a ausência de dosagem e indicação, sendo que os erros mais frequentes em setembro de 2015 foram a ausência de dosagem e indicação terapêutica (79,76%) e em setembro de 2016, a ilegibilidade da prescrição (87%). Levando em conta os requisitos legais, a ausência de diagnóstico foi o erro prevalente (set.-15: 64,19%; set.-16:60,08%). Por isso, é importante estabelecer um programa de gestão de riscos nos hospitais para implementar novas tecnologias que facilitem a prescrição.

Una estrategia para reducir el error de prescripción de medicamentos en pacientes hospitalizados / A strategy to reduce medication prescription error in hospitalized patients

Resumen Los errores de prescripción representan un relevante problema en salud. Este trabajo se propone analizar el error de prescripción de medicación en pacientes hospitalizados antes y después de una intervención múltiple. Se trata de un estudio cuasi experimental de tipo antes-después no controlado. La intervención consistió en la estandarización del proceso de prescripción y el entrenamiento del personal que prescribe. El porcentaje de error de prescripción antes de la intervención fue del 28.8% (n = 182), es decir 28.8 prescripciones incorrectas cada 100 prescripciones médicas. El dominio más frecuente de error fue: dosis in adecuada 52.2% (n = 95), medicamento incorrecto 33% (n = 60), días de tratamiento inapropiado 4.4%(n = 8) y otros 10.4% (n = 19). Luego de la intervención el error descendió a 4.3% (n = 26): 4.3 prescripciones con error cada 100 efectuadas, siendo el error más frecuente la dosis incorrecta: 76.9% (n = 20), otros 23.1% (n = 6). El daño asociado a medicación inadecuadamente prescripta antes y después fue de 0.95 (n = 6) eventos y 0.33 (n = 2) eventos cada 100 admisiones, respectivamente. La intervención de mejora resultó útil para la reducción del error de prescripción en esta institución y muestra de pacientes.

Abstract Prescription errors represent a relevant health problem. This work aims to analyze the medication prescription error in hospitalized patients before and after a multiple intervention. This is a quasi-experimental study of the uncontrolled before-after type. The intervention consisted of the standardization of the prescription process and the training of the prescribing staff. The percentage of prescription error before the intervention was 28.8% (n = 182), that is, 28.8 incorrect prescriptions per 100 medical prescriptions. The most frequent domain of error was: inappropriate dose 52.2% (n = 95), followed by incorrect medication 33% (n = 60), by days of inappropriate treatment 4.4% (n = 8) and others 10.4% (n = 19 ). After the intervention, the error decreased to 4.3% (n = 26), that is, 4.3 pre scriptions with error every 100 prescriptions, the most frequent error being the incorrect dose: 76.9% (n = 20), another 23.1% (n = 6 ). The harm associated with inadequately prescribed medication before and after was 0.95 (n = 6) events and 0.33 (n = 2) events per 100 admissions respectively. The improvement intervention was useful for reducing the prescription error in this institution and patient sample.

Antibiotic Prescription Quality in Group A b-hemolytic Streptococcal Pharyngitis

Antibiotic prescriptions in 227 patients with acute group A β-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis in the emergencydepartment were studied. Antibiotic prescription wasinappropriate in 42% of the cases, especially due to errors in theprescription of amoxicillin. Probably the use of low-spectrumpenicillins would improve this percentage.

A prospective observational study of prescription pattern in a tertiary care teaching hospital of Jharkhand

Background: Prescription error and irrational prescribing are the avoidable problems imposed on health care delivery system from prescriber side which must be addressed. Periodic prescription audit helps to curtail the error and irrational prescribing.Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted on patients visiting various Outpatient Department of RIMS, Ranchi, Jharkhand on all working days at 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM from 1 August 2018 to 31 July 2019. Various aspects of collected prescriptions were analyzed by using World Health Organization (WHO) prescribing indicators.Results: In this study, out of 700 prescriptions collected, 76 were excluded. Out of total 624 patients analyzed, 382 (61.28%) were male and 242 (38.72%) were female. 48 (7.69%) patients belonged to ?18, 464 (74.36%) to 19-64 and 112 (17.95%) to ?65 years of age group. Tablet (71%) was the most common dosage form. None of prescriptions were having registration number of the doctor. 242 (38.78%) prescriptions did not have a diagnosis duly written. The total no. of drugs prescribed in 624 prescriptions was 2176. Only 32 (5.13%) prescriptions were found to have medicines prescribed in block letters. Antibiotics (29%) were the most common class of drugs prescribed. Average number of drugs per prescription was 3.47. Only 48 (2.20%) drugs were prescribed by their generic name while total of injectables prescribed were 102 (4.68%). Total number of drugs from NLEM was 848 (38.97%). 196 (9.00%) drugs were fixed-dose combination.Conclusions: In our study, we found deficiencies in various parts of prescriptions. Prescribing pattern was not in accordance with WHO recommendation for prescribing practice.

Prescription audit to evaluate the pattern and errors in a tertiary care hospital

Background: Medication errors are widespread public health issue. Prescription errors commonly results in medication error. Prescription error can be largely avoidable this study was performed with aim to point out the common mistake in the prescription which may endanger patients.Methods: Our study was cross-sectional and observational, performed in Index Medical College. 320 prescriptions were reviewed. Analysis was done for presence or absence of essential components of prescription like prescriber information’s, patients information’s, details of drug like its dosage form, strength, frequency, total duration of treatment, warnings or instruction for use. The observed data was expressed in number and percentage.Results: Patient information was complete 315 (98.44%) in prescriptions. Prescriber’s information were present in 284 (88.75%). Legibility was seen in 240 (75%). Use of generic drug, capital letters for drug name, warning are seen in 9 (2.81%), 39 (12.19%), 3 (0.94%) respectively. Completeness in terms of the name of drug, dose, strength, route, frequency, duration and dosage forms of prescribed drugs was seen in 252 (78.75%) prescriptions.Conclusions: Properly framed and written prescription can largely prevent medication error. Regular prescription audit must be carried out so that common mistake can be identified and corrective measure with the help of training session, workshop can be taken.

Root cause analysis of medication errors at a multi-specialty hospital in Western India.

Background: Medication use is a complex process in a medical setting, it starts with physician prescribing, followed by nurse transcribing, pharmacist dispensing, medication administration, and patient monitoring. There is a definite role of clinical pharmacists in reduction of Medication errors by examining and evaluating its causes and communicate the results to physicians and caregivers. The aim of the present study was study of medication errors for the safety & the health benefit of the patient visiting multi specialty hospital. Methods: The Observational study was carried out at in-patient appointments at multi specialty hospital during the period of June 2012 to April 2013 at Baroda. Results: Total of 300 patients were observed out of which medication error has occurred in 117 (39%) cases considering 62% were males & 38% female patients. Out of 117 cases 28% of transcription errors, 62% of prescription errors, 11% of dispensing errors & 16 % Administration errors. 51% of medication errors were occurring in the age group of 40-60. Root cause analysis showed that prescription error was due to Illegible handwriting, No dosage form prescribed, the Wrong Brand name prescribed; transcription error due to Wrong drug is transcribed; administrative error due to Wrong dose is administered, Drug administered through wrong route, Wrong drug is administered while dispensing error due to Urgent dispensation not done within 10 to 15 minutes, Wrong dose dispensed. Conclusion: Most common medication errors were Prescription error & Transcription error which accounts for almost 77% of the total error, which is according to Pareto 80:20 Principle.