A study on prescribing errors in in-patients of a corporate tertiary care hospital in North India

Background: Prescribing errors are a subset of medication errors which have a potential for grave harm to the patient. Identification and acknowledgement of such errors can ameliorate much of this danger. Studies of prescribing errors are sparse in India. Such studies, whatever have been conducted, mainly focus on the out-patients or the patients on discharge. Hence, this study was undertaken to study the prescribing errors in prescriptions generated for patients admitted in wards of a corporate hospital in North India.Methods: The prescriptions for in-patients admitted in wards were analyzed for different types of prescribing errors in individual drug orders and prescription as a whole.Results: The prescribing error rate was found to be 3.3% in this study. Of all errors, errors leading to delays in patient care (i.e. Errors of prescription writing) (54.54%) and erroneous copying of the prescription to the drug chart by junior/ resident doctors (Transcription errors) (31.31%) were found to be the major causes of prescribing errors in this study. Of the former category, prescribing a wrong strength (24.24%) and illegible drug orders (12.12%) were the most numerous error subtypes. Errors leading to sub-optimal patient care (i.e. Errors of decision making) were least identified of which Therapeutic duplication (12.12%) was the most common subtype.Conclusions: The error rate found in this study is comparable to the data available from developed countries. However, there are significant differences in the occurrences of error subtypes found in this study as compared to the studies of the west.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia: the influence of bacterial resistance, prescription errors, and de-escalation of antimicrobial therapy on mortality rates

Abstract Ventilator-associated pneumonia is the most prevalent nosocomial infection in intensive care units and is associated with high mortality rates (14–70%). Aim This study evaluated factors influencing mortality of patients with Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), including bacterial resistance, prescription errors, and de-escalation of antibiotic therapy. Methods This retrospective study included 120 cases of Ventilator-associated pneumonia admitted to the adult adult intensive care unit of the Federal University of Uberlândia. The chi-square test was used to compare qualitative variables. Student's t-test was used for quantitative variables and multiple logistic regression analysis to identify independent predictors of mortality. Findings De-escalation of antibiotic therapy and resistant bacteria did not influence mortality. Mortality was 4 times and 3 times higher, respectively, in patients who received an inappropriate antibiotic loading dose and in patients whose antibiotic dose was not adjusted for renal function. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed the incorrect adjustment for renal function was the only independent factor associated with increased mortality. Conclusion Prescription errors influenced mortality of patients with Ventilator-associated pneumonia, underscoring the challenge of proper Ventilator-associated pneumonia treatment, which requires continuous reevaluation to ensure that clinical response to therapy meets expectations.

Errors, omissions and medication patterns of handwritten outpatient prescriptions in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional health survey.

Handwritten prescription errors are worldwide common problem. We investigated the types and extent of prescription errors in three cities of Bangladesh. Total 900 outpatient prescriptions were surveyed following the guidelines of WHO and BNF. Prescription errors in superscription, inscription and subscription were analyzed by Microsoft Excel 2010. About 73% patients visited MBBS and 8% BDS doctors. The male outpatients (55%) were slightly higher than female (45%). Commonly found errors of prescription were in superscription part, i.e. gender (64.33%), age (17.67%) and name (5%) of the patients. In inscription part, most common error was the direction for drug use (42%) followed by the dosage regimens (28%), doses (26%), and dosage forms (12.67%) of the drug. In subscription part, illegible handwriting was most common (46%) followed by the prescribers sign (10.67%) and date (4%). In a single prescription, averagely 3 and maximally 8 drugs were found to be prescribed. Most frequently prescribed drugs were antibiotics (18.25%) followed by antacids (17.45%) and NSAIDs (13.60%). Errors in handwritten prescriptions are the primary causes of treatment failure in Bangladesh. More professional care by the prescribers’ and the inclusion of pharmacists in hospital can only reduce the errors and assure safer health.

Análise farmacológica e legal de prescrições odontológicas de antibióticos: um estudo transversal / Pharmacological and legal analysis of antitibiotic dental prescriptions: a cross-sectional study

Cirurgiões-dentistas têm a prerrogativa de prescrever medicamentos como adjuvantes ao tratamento odontológico. Em 2011, com a promulgação da Resolução de Diretoria Colegiada no 20 da Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária - ANVISA, antibióticos se tornaram medicamentos sujeitos a prescrição especial. Este estudo transversal descritivo buscou conhecer o ato prescricional dos cirurgiões-dentistas quanto aos antibióticos, identificar os mais prescritos, determinar se houve erro no atendimento das determinações legais e identificar erros na prescrição profilática. Foram analisadas prescrições odontológicas de antibióticos aviadas na maior rede de drogarias de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, de 1º de julho de 2011 a 30 de junho de 2012. No período da coleta de dados havia 75 lojas em funcionamento. Foi possível recuperar informações sobre as prescrições de 69 delas (Taxa de retorno=92,0%). Para o universo, 31.105 prescrições, foi realizado um sorteio da amostra, com cálculo baseado na estimativa de proporções (50% de proporção estimada de prescrição com erro, 5% de precisão e nível de confiança de 95%). Foram sorteadas 434 prescrições, pela técnica de amostragem aleatória simples. Após exclusão daquelas com repetição de prescritor e/ou de paciente, foram analisadas 366 prescrições. A precisão recalculada para este montante foi igual a 5,09%. Após dupla digitação no programa Epi-Data foi criado um banco de dados no programa SPSS. A pesquisa foi submetida e aprovada pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da UFMG. Os resultados das análises demonstraram que a maioria dos antibióticos prescritos pertence ao grupo das penicilinas (71,9%) e dos macrolídeos (17,6%). Também foram prescritos, em menor proporção, antibióticos para aplicação cutânea e vários outros, incluindo antifúngicos, além de associações: amoxicilina com ciprofloxacino e com clindamicina...

Dentists have the prerogative to prescribe drugs as adjuncts to dental treatment (BRASIL, 1966). In 2011, with the enactment of the Collegiate Board Resolution no.20 of the National Health Surveillance Agency - ANVISA, antibiotics became drugs subject to special prescription. This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to know the limitation act of dentists as to antibiotics, identify the most prescribed, determine if there was an error in meeting the legal requirements and identify errors in prophylactic prescription. Dental antibiotic prescriptions filled in the largest drugstore chain in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais were analyzed from 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012. In the period of data collection there were 75 stores in operation. It was possible to retrieve information about the prescriptions of 69 of them (return rate = 92%). For the study of 31,105 prescriptions, there was a draw of the sample, with calculation based on estimated proportions (50% of estimated proportion with prescription error, 5% precision and 95% of confidence level). 434 prescriptions were selected by the simple random sampling technique. After excluding those with repeating prescriber and / or patient, 366 prescriptions were analyzed. The accuracy recalculated for this amount was equal to 5.09%. After double entry in Epi-Date program it was created a database in the SPSS software. The research was subjected and approved by the Ethics Committee of UFMG. The results of analysis showed that most prescribed antibiotics belong to the group of penicillins (71.9%) and macrolides (17.6%). Also were prescribed, to a lesser extent, antibiotics for topical application and several others, including antifungal, in addition to associations: amoxicillin with ciprofloxacin and clindamycin. In 27.9% of the prescriptions there were errors in spelling or disobedience to the determination to follow the Brazilian Common Denomination (DCB)...

Reacciones adversas medicamentosas y errores de prescripción: morbi-mortalidad / Adverse drug reactions and prescription errors: morbi-mortality

La farmacovigilancia tiene por objeto la detección, evaluación, comprensión y prevención de cualquier problema relacionado a las drogas. La recolección de información relacionada a reacciones adversas medicamentosas (RAM) posterior a la aprobación y el manejo del riesgo basados en los datos observacionales son críticos para la salud pública.El objetivo primario fue evaluar la morbimortalidad de las reacciones adversas medicamentosas y describir los errores médicos de prescripción en un hospital público de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Se llevó a cabo un estudio prospectivo observacional. Se definió RAM como cualquier manifestación nociva, clínica y/o biológica imputable a un medicamento, que ocurra a las dosis habitualmente utilizadas en humanos para la profilaxis, diagnóstico o tratamiento de una enfermedad. La mortalidad global fue del 7% (21/310) y la atribuible a RAM observada fue del 1% (3/310). Se identificaron 149 RAMs en el 36% de los pacientes (111/310) y las RAM constituyeron el 11% (35/310) de los motivos de internación. Las RAM causan un número significativo de internaciones y son responsables de morbilidad evitable durante la internación. Ningún fármaco aislado causó más del 6% de las RAM, por lo que las estrategias para disminuirlas deben estar dirigidas a múltiples grupos farmacológicos.

Pharmacovigilance aims to detect, assess, understand and prevent any possible drug-related problem. The record of information related to adverse drug reactions (ADRs) after drug approval and risk management based on observational data are crucial for public health. The main goal was to assess the ADRs morbimortality and to describe prescription medical errors in a public hospital in the city of Buenos Aires. A prospective observational study was undertaken. ADR was defined as any clinical and/or biological noxious manifestation imputable to a drug, which occurs at the usually used dose in humans for disease prophylaxis, diagnosis or treatment. Global mortality was 7% (21/310). The observed mortality due to ADR accounted for 1% (3/310). One hundred and forty nine ADRs in 36% of patients were identified (111/310), and 11% (35/310) of the hospital admissions were due to ADRs. ADRs cause a great number of admissions and are responsible for preventable morbidity during hospitalization. Neither drug alone caused more than 6% of the ADRs. For this reason, in order to diminish ADRs, strategies should be addressed to multiple drug groups.

Detección de errores potenciales de prescripción de carboplatino mediante validación farmacéutica / Detection of potential prescription errors of carboplatin by pharmaceutical validation

Las fallas en alguno de los procesos de la farmacoterapéutica podrían ser un riesgo potencial para que se cometan errores que puedan provocar daños en el paciente. Por este motivo todo servicio que aplique terapéutica citostática a sus pacientes debe establecer un procedimiento de validación de sus procesos, comenzando por la prescripción. En el presente trabajo se realizó un análisis del comportamiento de este proceso en las prescripciones que incluyeron el carboplatino, citostático cuyos efectos adversos son en general, frecuentes, moderadamente importantes y cuyas dosis deben ser ajustadas individualmente teniendo en cuenta el aclaramiento estimado y el área bajo la curva. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo retrospectivo con el objetivo de identificar las deficiencias en el transcurso de la validación farmacéutica de este fármaco, incluido en los esquemas de tratamientos de quimioterapia en pacientes con cáncer de pulmón. Fueron seleccionadas 45 órdenes médicas de pacientes comprendidos en grupos de edades mayores de 51 años, con comportamiento similar en uno y otro sexo y en los cuales predominó el cáncer de pulmón de células no pequeñas. Prevalecieron los errores sin daño de tipo B (64), seguidos de los errores sin daño tipo C (21). Los errores potenciales de tipo A se presentaron con una frecuencia de 26 oportunidades, en 8 de ellas no se indicó el área bajo la curva y en 18 no hubo cambio de dosis en los diferentes ciclos. Se concluye que el proceso de validación farmacéutica es vital para prevenir que los errores en la prescripción lleguen al paciente

All failures in some of the pharmacotherapy processes could be a potential risk to make mistakes that could to provoke damages in the patient. Thus, all service applying a cytostatic therapy to its patients must to establish a validation procedure of processes, beginning by prescription. In present paper an analysis of behavior of this process in the prescriptions was made including the carboplatin, cytostatic agent whose adverse effects are in general frequent, moderately significant and whose doses must to be adjusted taking into account the estimated clearance and the area under curve. The aim of present paper was to conduct a retrospective and descriptive study to identify the deficiencies during the pharmaceutical validation of this drug, included in the schemes of chemotherapy treatment in patients presenting with lung cancer. A total of 45 medical prescriptions were selected from patients aged over 51 with a similar behavior in both sexes where the non-small cells lung cancer was predominant, prevailing the error without type B damage (64) followed by error without type C damage (21). The potential type A errors were present in 26 opportunities; in eight of them the area under the curve was not signaled and in 18 there was not a dose change during the different cycles. We conclude that the pharmaceutical validation process is essential to avoid that the errors in prescription to reach patient

Analysis of prescription errors made by outpatient electronic prescription system / 中华医院管理杂志

Errors in prescriptions are common phenomena in prescriptions produced by clinicians. With development and application of information technology in medical fields, electronic prescription system has been regarded as the best resolution for effective prevention of errors in prescriptions. A retrospective study of the prescriptions made by the electronic prescription system of the hospital studied over one year showed that this system could reduce errors easily made in manual prescriptions significantly, but it failed to reduce the errors related to dosages. Those dosage-related errors were mainly caused by change of physician prescribing behavior and defective man-machine interaction. Electronic prescription system, though functions basically, can not avoid prescription errors effectively, which poses a potential threat to safe use of medicines in patients. It is urgent at the moment to perfect the functions of electronic prescription system, promote a friendly man-machine interaction and reduce errors made by system errors.