ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Reducing prescribing errors is key to ensuring patient safety. Foundation-year doctors (FYs) have been found to be major contributors to prescribing errors, and often feel poorly prepared for prescribing by their undergraduate education. Numerous studies have reported these findings; however, few studies have introduced meaningful interventions. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to FY2s (n = 20) to determine the 15 most commonly prescribed medications on call. These medications and instructions were incorporated into a flashcard that was disseminated to new FY1s at a teaching hospital in the UK. The FY1s were asked to complete a pre- and post-flashcard questionnaire, giving instructions for 10 medications and their confidence in prescribing these medications. A control group at another teaching hospital were given the same questionnaires, but not the flashcard. RESULTS: No significant difference in confidence was seen in FY1s at either hospital before the flashcard was issued. Both groups at week 4 demonstrated significant improvements in confidence in prescribing, with those who received the flashcard demonstrating a significantly higher level of confidence in a greater range of medications, compared with those who did not (p < 0.05). At week 4, 93 per cent of FY1s still used the flashcard 2.2 times per day, claiming that it saved time on call (9.2/10). DISCUSSION: We have introduced an inexpensive and simple prescribing aid, which has been statistically shown to improve prescribing confidence in FY1s. Foundation-year doctors have been found to be major contributors to prescribing errors.
