Errores en prescripción y transcripción de medicamentos endovenosos en Servicios Pediátricos, Hospital Dr. Hernán Henríquez Aravena: Temuco, 2008-2009 / Frequency of prescription and transcription errors for intravenous medications in four pediatric services

ABSTRACT

Background: Errors in the prescription and transcription of medications in pediatric services is a source of adverse events that can be prevented. Aim: To determine and compare the frequency of prescription and transcription errors for intravenous drugs in four pediatric services in a regional general hospital. Material and Methods: Cross sectional analysis of a probabilistic sample of 500 prescriptions of intravenous medications. Information was gathered using an instrument from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Results: The detected prescription errors were illegible indications in 20 percent, lack of dosing indication in 11 percent, omission of the administration route in 24 percent and omission of the frequency of administration in 15 percent. Transcription errors were illegible transcription in 3 percent, not transcribing all indicated medications in 4 percent and transcription of medications that were not prescribed in 3 percent. Twenty one percent of prescriptions and 6 percent of transcriptions had at least one incorrect action. In the different services studied there was a significant association between the percentage of incorrect prescriptions and transcriptions and between illegible prescriptions and transcriptions. Conclusions: A high percentage of errors in prescription of intravenous medications and their transcriptions, was detected in these services. A better quality of care control is required.