Uso de abreviaturas inseguras en la prescripción médica y errores de medicación: una revisión narrativa / Unsafe abbreviations in medical prescriptions and their association with medication errors: a review
Rev. méd. Chile
;
148(6): 842-848, jun. 2020. tab, graf
Article
in Spanish
| LILACS
| ID: biblio-1139379
ABSTRACT
The prescription of medications is a weak link in the therapeutic chain of a drug. Medication errors can be associated with the use of so-called unsafe abbreviations in medical prescription. When they are mistakenly interpreted by the person who reads the prescription, error becomes imminent. We herein review the literature about the use of unsafe abbreviations in medical prescriptions and their association with medication errors. PubMed and Lilacs were reviewed, and 29 studies were analyzed, extracting information about the use of abbreviations, common abbreviations, reasons for their use and tools to reduce this conduct. A list with the main risky health abbreviations adapted to Chile was generated. It became clear that the use of abbreviations has increased, appearing in almost all medical prescriptions. The most commonly used abbreviations are the acronym "u" referring to units, followed by "sc" referring to subcutaneous. One of the causes for the use of acronyms the limited time that doctors have at the time of prescription. One way to reduce the use of these abbreviations, is to remind constantly about those that may have the greatest risk in each health institution. A list of unsafe abbreviations, to be used by Chilean health services, is proposed.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Drug Prescriptions
/
Medication Errors
Type of study:
Risk factors
/
Systematic reviews
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
South America
/
Chile
Language:
Spanish
Journal:
Rev. méd. Chile
Journal subject:
Medicine
Year:
2020
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Chile
Institution/Affiliation country:
Universidad Andres Bello/CL
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