The effect of electronic medical records on medication errors, workload, and medical information availability among qualified nurses in Israel- a cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Errors in medication administration by qualified nursing staff in hospitals are a significant risk factor for patient safety. In recent decades, electronic medical records (EMR) systems have been implemented in hospitals, and it has been claimed that they contribute to reducing such errors. However, systematic research on the subject in Israel is scarce. This study examines the position of the qualified nursing staff regarding the impact of electronic medical records systems on factors related to patient safety, including errors in medication administration, workload, and availability of medical information. METHODS: This cross-sectional study examines three main variables: Medication errors, workload, and medical information availability, comparing two periods- before and after EMR implementation based on self-reports. A final sample of 591 Israeli nurses was recruited using online private social media groups to complete an online structured questionnaire. The questionnaires included items assessing workload (using the Expanding Nursing Stress Scale), medical information availability (the Carrington-Gephart Unintended Consequences of Electronic Health Record Questionnaire), and medical errors (the Medical Error Checklists). Items were assessed twice, once for the period before the introduction of electronic records and once after. In addition, participants answered open-ended questions that were qualitatively analyzed. RESULTS: Nurses perceive the EMR as reducing the extent of errors in drug administration (mean difference = -0.92 ± 0.90SD, p < 0.001), as well as the workload (mean difference = -0.83 ± 1.03SD, p < 0.001) by ∼ 30% on average, each. Concurrently, the systems are perceived to require a longer documentation time at the expense of patients' treatment time, and they may impair the availability of medical information by about 10% on average. CONCLUSION: The results point to nurses' perceived importance of EMR systems in reducing medication errors and relieving the workload. Despite the overall positive attitudes toward EMR systems, nurses also report that they reduce information availability compared to the previous pen-and-paper approach. A need arises to improve the systems in terms of planning and adaptation to the field and provide appropriate technical and educational support to nurses using them.

Investigating and Developing a Practical Domestic-Medication System of Public Health for Chinese Family.

(1) Background: The main research aim of this paper is to investigate the commonly stocked medicines in Chinese households. Firstly, a large number of questionnaires were collected to uncover the problem: most Chinese families have the habit of stocking their family medicine boxes. However, there is a lack of a standardized, systematic, and scientific list of household medicine stockpiles. As a result, there are major problems in stocking medicines in households: (1) There is little connection between the type and quantity of medicines stocked and real life; (2) The expiration date of medicines leads to misuse and waste of medicines; (3) The existing list of medicines can provide little help. (2) Methods: The preliminary drug stock list was summarized through case studies; the authenticity of the questions and the credibility of the list were verified through interviews; the number of different types of drugs and the relationship between the resident's perception of the importance of drugs and their frequency of use was determined through questionnaires; the authenticity of the list was verified through interviews with senior doctors. (3) Results: We finally composed a scientific and practical list of common household medicines, developed a practical domestic-medication system for Chinese families, and conducted validation studies, which received the approval of senior doctors. (4) Conclusions: (1) Chinese families need to prepare medicines according to the actual composition of the family; (2) Chinese families need a scientific and systematic list of commonly prepared medicines; and (3) in addition to the types of medicines, it is also necessary to consider the number of individual types of medicines to be stocked.

Automated unit dose dispensing systems producing individually packaged and labelled drugs for inpatients: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: Pharmacy automation is increasing in hospitals. The aim of this systematic review was to identify and evaluate the literature on automated unit dose dispensing systems (UDDS) producing individually packaged and labelled drugs for inpatients. METHODS: The search was conducted on eight electronic databases, including Scopus, Medline Ovid, and Cinahl, and limited to peer reviewed articles with English abstracts published 2000-2020. Studies were included in the review if drug dispensing was performed by an automated UDDS where individually packaged and labelled unit doses were subsequently assembled patient specifically for inpatients. All outcomes related to UDDS functionality were included with specific interest in medication safety, cost-efficiency and stock management. Outcomes were categorised and results synthesised qualitatively. RESULTS: 664 publications were screened, one article identified manually, resulting in eight included articles. Outcomes of the studies were categorised as medication administration errors (MAEs), dispensing errors, costs and cost-effectiveness. Studies showed that automated UDDS reduced significantly MAEs of inpatients compared with traditional ward stock system (WSS), especially when UDs were dispensed patient specifically by unit dose dispensing robot. Patient specific drug dispensing with automated UDDS was very accurate. Of three different automated medication systems (AMSs), patient specific AMS (psAMS) was the most cost-effective and complex AMS (cAMS) the most expensive system across all error types due to the higher additional investments and operation costs of automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs). None of the studies investigated the impact on the medication management process such as efficiency, costs and stock management as primary outcome. CONCLUSIONS: UDDS improved patient safety. However, automation is a costly investment and the implementation process is complex and time consuming. Further controlled studies are needed on the clinical and economical outcomes of automated UDDS to produce reliable knowledge for hospital decision makers on the cost-benefit of the investment and to support decision making.

Survey of nurses' knowledge and practice regarding medication administration using enteral tubes.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES: To identify the practice variation of the individual practitioners in medications' formulation modification for patients using enteral feeding tubing and to support health practitioners involved in this process. BACKGROUND: Blockage of enteral tubes is a common problem that can sometimes be resolved but may require replacement of the tube. Medications are a common culprit. DESIGN: A survey of 73 registered nurses' practices around medication administration via enteral feeding tubes. METHODS: A questionnaire study was undertaken within a district general hospital across a broad variety of wards to explore nurses' experiences of medication administration via enteral tubes. The study is reported in accordance with the squire 2.0 guidelines from the EQUATOR network. RESULTS: Seventy-three nurses responded. Twenty-six per cent reported never checking about drug modification for administration via a tube, 12% check every time and 61% when unsure about a new drug. The volume of fluid flushes administered after medication ranged from 7.5-150 ml. Seventy-one per cent of participants reported stopping feed when medications are required, varying from 1-60 min. Sixty per cent had experienced a blocked tube and 52% the tube being removed for these reasons. The clinical nurse specialist was the commonest first point of call to help. Staff named 15 medications as the most problematic to administer, lactulose and omeprazole were the top two. CONCLUSIONS: Practice varies significantly amongst nurses around medication administration. Theoretically, this may contribute to blocked tubes and excessive fluid administration to some patients. Barriers to medication administration were thematically grouped into: time, difficulty modifying medication, medication interactions and knowledge. Areas identified to support staff include training, devices to crush medications, medication suitability, multidisciplinary approach to streamline care and quick reference guides. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Health professionals may use these results to reduce and ultimately avoid problems with administering medications through feeding tubes. Organisations may use these results to develop their local practice pathways for prescribing, dispensing and training around administration of medications through enteral tubes. In a community setting, this paper may improve the awareness of patients, caregivers and prescribers of the possible implications of tubing blockages.

How smart medication systems are used to support older people's drug regimens: A systematic literature review.

Smart medication systems are used to help older people, and the professionals and family who care for them, to organize and manage their daily drug regimes. However, synthetized knowledge on previous studies about how these improve everyday life is needed. We searched the PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, PsycINFO, SocINDEX and Cochrane library databases from 2005 to 2019 and this review focused on nine of the 2,424 papers we identified. According to our analysis, smart medication systems make it possible to regulate medication times and doses and detect medication errors. With further development, smart medication systems could be more be effective at preventing medication errors, improving medication adherence by older people and freeing up healthcare professional, so that they can focus on other tasks. However, more research on different systems is needed to improve existing solutions and to understand how they can make older people more independent when it comes to their daily medication.

Farmacovigilancia: un paso importante en la seguridad del paciente / Pharmacovigilance: an important step in patient safety

Resumen Aunque la conciencia por el correcto uso de las sustancias empleadas para el tratamiento de las diferentes enfermedades tiene el mismo principio hipocrático de «primero no hacer daño¼, ésta no fue concretada como una actividad exprofeso para la vigilancia de sus efectos, lo que en épocas recientes se denomina farmacovigilancia. Las actividades de farmacovigilancia se impulsaron a partir de importantes reacciones adversas graves a medicamentos que fueron señales para advertir que, si bien éstos tienen como propósito mejorar el estado de salud, también tienen potencialidad de ser perjudiciales de manera importante, incluso fatal. Las actividades de farmacovigilancia como esfuerzo mundial procuran la mejora de la seguridad de los medicamentos mediante la monitorización de las reacciones adversas que se presentan postcomercialización en población abierta. Con el devenir histórico de la ciencia médica, también se ha hecho evidente la necesidad de implementar mecanismos para disminuir el potencial error humano, así como identificar y gestionar los riesgos y problemas relacionados con los medicamentos; ha sido importante, también, impulsar la cultura del reporte a fin de percibir la problemática y analizar su causalidad, y con el esfuerzo de todos, establecer mecanismos que influyan en la mejora del perfil de seguridad del sistema de medicación de las naciones. México, como un actor importante en la toma de decisiones globales, no se ha mantenido aislado ante este escenario y se suma a los esfuerzos dando importantes pasos desde las mismas autoridades sanitarias, implementando acciones que van desde el ámbito normativo y que han permeado en todo el sector salud de nuestro país. Ante este esperanzador panorama, sería irresponsable bajar la guardia; al contrario, hay que redoblar esfuerzos para concretar el programa de farmacovigilancia. Dichos esfuerzos no escapan a nuestro medio; con la creación de la Unidad de Farmacovigilancia Hospitalaria del Hospital Central Militar en 2014, nuestra institución es consistente con la visión de la calidad y seguridad en salud.

Abstract Although awareness of the correct use of substances used for the treatment of different diseases has the same Hippocratic principle of: «first do no harm¼, this was not made concrete as an ex-professed activity for the monitoring of its effects, which in recent times is called pharmacovigilance. Pharmacovigilance activities were prompted by major serious adverse reactions to drugs that were warning signs that, while they are intended to improve health status, they also have the potential to be harmful in significant, even fatal, ways. Pharmacovigilance activities, as a global effort, aim to improve the safety of medicines by monitoring post-marketing adverse reactions in the open population. With the historical development of medical science, it has also become evident the need to implement mechanisms to reduce the potential for human error, as well as to identify and manage the risks and problems related to medicines; it has also been important to promote a reporting culture in order to warn of the problem, analyze its causality, and with everybody's effort, establish mechanisms that improve the safety profile of the nations' medication system. Mexico, as an important actor in global decision-making, has not remained isolated in the face of this scenario, and joins the efforts of the health authorities themselves in taking important steps, implementing actions that go from the regulatory sphere, and have permeated the entire health sector of our country. Faced with this hopeful scenario, it would be irresponsible to lower our guard; on the contrary, we must redouble our efforts to implement a pharmacovigilance programme. These efforts do not escape us, and that with the creation of the Hospital Pharmacovigilance Unit of the Central Military Hospital in 2014, our institution is consistent with the vision of quality and health safety.

Comparison on Human Resource Requirement between Manual and Automated Dispensing Systems.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to compare human resource requirement among manual, automated, and modified automated dispensing systems. METHODS: Data were collected from the pharmacy department at the 2100-bed university hospital (Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand). Data regarding the duration of the medication distribution process were collected by using self-reported forms for 1 month. The data on the automated dispensing machine (ADM) system were obtained from 1 piloted inpatient ward, whereas those on the manual system were the average of other wards. Data on dispensing, returned unused medication, and stock management processes under the traditional manual system and the ADM system were from actual activities, whereas the modified ADM system was modeled. The full-time equivalent (FTE) of each model was estimated for comparison. RESULTS: The result showed that the manual system required 46.84 FTEs of pharmacists and 132.66 FTEs of pharmacy technicians. By adding pharmacist roles on screening and verification under the ADM system, the ADM system required 117.61 FTEs of pharmacists. Replacing counting and filling medication functions by ADM has decreased the number of pharmacy technicians to 55.38 FTEs. After the modified ADM system canceled the return unused medication process, FTEs requirement for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians decreased to 69.78 and 51.90 FTEs, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The ADM system decreased the workload of pharmacy technicians, whereas it required more time from pharmacists. However, the increased workload of pharmacists was associated with more comprehensive patient care functions, which resulted from the redesigned work process.

eMedication Meets eHealth with the Electronic Medication Management Assistant (eMMA).

BACKGROUND: A patient's healthcare team is often missing a complete overview on the prescribed and dispensed medication. This is due to an inconsistent information flow between the different actors of the healthcare system. Often, only the patient himself knows exactly which drugs he is actually taking. OBJECTIVES: Our objective is to exploit different eHealth technologies available or planned in Switzerland to improve the information flow of the medication data among the stakeholder and to support the patient in managing his medication. METHODS: This work is embedded in the "Hospital of the Future Live" project, involving 16 companies and 6 hospitals in order to develop IT solutions for future optimized health care processes. A comprehensive set of requirements was collected from the different actors and project partners. Further, specifications of the available or planned eHealth infrastructure were reviewed to integrate relevant technologies into a coherent concept. RESULTS: We developed a concept that combines the medication list and an eHealth platform. The resulting electronic medication management assistant (eMMA) designed for the patient provides the current medication plan at any time and supports by providing relevant information through a conversational user interface. CONCLUSION: In Switzerland, we still need a bridging technology to combine the medication information from the electronic patient record with the medication plan's associated QR-Code. The developed app is intended to provide such bridge and demonstrates the usefulness of the eMediplan. It enables the patient to have all data regarding his medication on his personal mobile phone and he can - if necessary - provide the current medication to the health professional.

Medication system: analysis of actions taken by professionals in psychiatric units / Sistema de medicacíon: análisis de las acciones profesionales en unidades psiquiátricas / Sistema de medicação: análise das ações dos profissionais em unidades de internação psiquiátrica

ABSTRACT This study analyzed the medication systems in psychiatric units of a general hospital and a psychiatric hospital in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. It is a quantitative and cross-sectional, exploratory survey study with 144 professionals from the areas of medication, nursing and pharmacy. Data were collected by direct, non-participative observation and by medical records review. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Factors that affect patient safety, such as interruptions during prescription, handwritten changes to electronic prescriptions, limited handling of the electronic prescription system, unavailable clinical pharmacy, mistakes in activities related to the preparation and administration of medications and other factors were identified. The study reveals the susceptible points for the occurrence of medication errors in psychiatric hospitalization departments and discusses recommendations and technological resources that can promote security in the medication system.

RESUMEN Este estudio analizó los sistemas de medicación en unidades psiquiátricas de un hospital general y de un hospital psiquiátrico del interior del estado de Sao Paulo, en Brasil. Estudio cuantitativo, transversal y exploratorio. Participaron de la encuesta 144 profesionales de medicina, enfermería y farmacia. Los datos fueron obtenidos por medio de observación no participante directa y revisión de fichas médicas y se analizaron por estadística descriptiva. Fueron identificados factores que no favorecen la seguridad del paciente como: interrupciones durante la actividad de prescripción; modificaciones escritas en prescripciones electrónicas; restricciones en la manipulación del sistema electrónico de prescripción, indisponibilidad farmacéutica; fallas en las actividades relacionadas en la preparación y administración de los medicamentos, y otros factores. Este estudio revela puntos vulnerables para casos de errores de medicación en servicios de internación psiquiátrica y discute recomendaciones y recursos tecnológicos que pueden promover la seguridad en el sistema de medicación.

RESUMO Este estudo analisou os sistemas de medicação em unidades de psiquiatria de um hospital geral e de um hospital psiquiátrico, do interior de São Paulo, Brasil. Trata-se de estudo quantitativo, transversal, tipo survey exploratório e realizado com 144 profissionais da medicina, enfermagem e farmácia. Os dados foram coletados por observação não participante direta e revisão em prontuários e foram analisados por estatística descritiva. Foram identificados fatores que desfavorecem a segurança do paciente como interrupções, durante a atividade de prescrição, alterações manuscritas em prescrições eletrônicas, restrições no manuseio do sistema eletrônico de prescrição, indisponibilidade de farmácia clínica, falhas nas atividades relacionadas ao preparo e à administração dos medicamentos e outros. Este estudo revela pontos vulneráveis para a ocorrência de erros de medicação em serviços de internação psiquiátrica e discute recomendações e recursos tecnológicos que podem promover a segurança no sistema de medicação.

Antineoplastic drug contamination in the urine of Canadian healthcare workers.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to quantify the urine concentration of non-metabolized cyclophosphamide (CP), a commonly administered antineoplastic drug, among potentially exposed Canadian healthcare workers and to identify factors associated with the drug concentration levels. METHODS: Participants were asked to provide two sets of 24-h urine samples (at two different sampling events), and the level of CP was quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. In addition to demographic information, participants were surveyed regarding their frequency of handling of antineoplastic drugs, safe drug handling training, and known contact with CP on their work shift. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed. A backward stepwise linear mixed effect model was conducted to identify the factors associated with urine concentration levels. RESULTS: We collected 201 urine samples, and 55 % (n = 111) had levels greater than the LOD of 0.05 ng/mL. The mean urinary CP concentration was 0.156 ng/mL, the geometric mean was 0.067 ng/mL, the geometric standard deviation was 3.18, the 75th percentile was 0.129 ng/mL, and the range was

Análise de causa raiz de acidentes por quedas e erros de medicação em hospital / Root cause analysis of falling accidents and medication errors in hospital

Objetivo: Identificar incidentes por queda e erros de medicação notificados em um hospital geral e privado e apresentar as categorias de fatores causais desses incidentes. Métodos: Trata-se de estudo transversal e exploratório realizado com 62 incidentes notificados no período de estudo. O instrumento de pesquisa foi elaborado para coletar dados dos formulários de notificação e dos prontuários dos pacientes. A validação de conteúdo do instrumento foi realizada por juízes. Foram constituídas duas equipes para análise da causa raiz dos incidentes e categorização dos fatores causais. Resultados: No período de estudo foram notificados 62 incidentes, sendo 11 quedas e 51 erros de medicação. A maior parte das quedas foi da própria altura, e os principais tipos de erros de medicação foram omissão e horário. Dos 19 incidentes analisados, um total de 118 fatores causais foram identificados, sendo a maioria relacionada às falhas sistêmicas, seguidas por falhas do indivíduo e do paciente. Conclusão: Erros de medicação ocorrem com maior frequência do que acidentes por quedas. A equipe de causa raiz analisou 14 erros de medicação com potencial para causar danos e cinco acidentes por queda, sendo identificados 83 e 35 fatores causais, respectivamente. .

Objective: To identify fall incidents and medication errors reported in a general private hospital and to introduce the causal factors categories of these incidents. Methods: Cross-sectional and exploratory study based on 62 reported incidents within the period of study. The research instrument was created in order to collect data from notification forms and patients' medical records. The content validation of the instrument was performed by judges. Two teams were set up to analyze the root cause of incidents and to categorize the causal factors. Results: Within the period of study, 62 incidents were reported, of which 11 were falls and 51 were medication errors. Most of the fall were from own height, and the main medication error types were omission and timing. Out of the 19 analyzed incidents, a total of 118 causal factors were identified, most of which were related to systemic failures, followed by individual and patients failures. Conclusion: Medication errors occur more frequently than fall accidents.The root cause team analyzed 14 medication errors with potential to cause harm and five fall accidents, with 83 and 35 identified causal factors respectively. .

Antineoplastic drug contamination on the hands of employees working throughout the hospital medication system.

We previously reported that antineoplastic drug contamination is found on various work surfaces situated throughout the hospital medication system (process flow of drug within a facility from initial delivery to waste disposal). The presence of drug residual on surfaces suggests that healthcare workers involved in some capacity with the system may be exposed through dermal contact. The purpose of this paper was to determine the dermal contamination levels of healthcare employees working throughout a hospital and to identify factors that may influence dermal contamination. We selected participants from six hospitals and wiped the front and back of workers' hands. Wipe samples were analyzed for cyclophosphamide (CP), a commonly used antineoplastic drug, using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Participants were asked about their frequency of handling antineoplastic drugs, known contact with CP on their work shift, gender, job title, and safe drug handling training. In addition, participants were surveyed regarding their glove usage and hand washing practices prior to wipe sample collection. We collected a total of 225 wipe samples. Only 20% (N = 44) were above the limit of detection (LOD) of 0.36ng per wipe. The average concentration was 0.36ng per wipe, the geometric mean < LOD, the geometric standard deviation 1.98, and the range < LOD to 22.8ng per wipe. Hospital employees were classified into eight different job categories and all categories had some dermal contamination levels in excess of the LOD. The job category with the highest proportion of samples greater than the LOD were those workers in the drug administration unit who were not responsible for drug administration (volunteer, oncologist, ward aide, dietician). Of note, the highest recorded concentration was from a worker who had no known contact with CP on their work shift. Our results suggest that a broader range of healthcare workers than previously believed, including those that do not directly handle or administer the drugs (e.g. unit clerks, ward aides, dieticians, and shipper/receivers), are at risk of exposure to antineoplastic drugs. A review of control measures to minimize antineoplastic drug exposure that encompasses a wide array of healthcare workers involved with the hospital medication system is recommended.

Occupational Exposure to Antineoplastic Drugs: Identification of Job Categories Potentially Exposed throughout the Hospital Medication System.

OBJECTIVES: Studies examining healthcare workers' exposure to antineoplastic drugs have focused on the drug preparation or drug administration areas. However, such an approach has probably underestimated the overall exposure risk as the drugs need to be delivered to the facility, transported internally and then disposed. The objective of this study is to determine whether drug contamination occurs throughout a facility and, simultaneously, to identify those job categories that are potentially exposed. METHODS: This was a multi-site study based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Interviews were conducted to determine the departments where the drugs travel. Subsequent site observations were performed to ascertain those surfaces which frequently came into contact with antineoplastic drugs and to determine the job categories which are likely to contact these surfaces. Wipe samples were collected to quantify surface contamination. RESULTS: Surface contamination was found in all six stages of the hospital medication system. Job categories consistently found to be at risk of exposure were nurses, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy receivers. Up to 11 job categories per site may be at risk of exposure at some point during the hospital medication system. CONCLUSION: We found drug contamination on select surfaces at every stage of the medication system, which indicates the existence of an exposure potential throughout the facility. Our results suggest that a broader range of workers are potentially exposed than has been previously examined. These results will allow us to develop a more inclusive exposure assessment encompassing all healthcare workers that are at risk throughout the hospital medication system.

Occupational Exposure to Antineoplastic Drugs: Identification of Job Categories Potentially Exposed throughout the Hospital Medication System

OBJECTIVES: Studies examining healthcare workers' exposure to antineoplastic drugs have focused on the drug preparation or drug administration areas. However, such an approach has probably underestimated the overall exposure risk as the drugs need to be delivered to the facility, transported internally and then disposed. The objective of this study is to determine whether drug contamination occurs throughout a facility and, simultaneously, to identify those job categories that are potentially exposed. METHODS: This was a multi-site study based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Interviews were conducted to determine the departments where the drugs travel. Subsequent site observations were performed to ascertain those surfaces which frequently came into contact with antineoplastic drugs and to determine the job categories which are likely to contact these surfaces. Wipe samples were collected to quantify surface contamination. RESULTS: Surface contamination was found in all six stages of the hospital medication system. Job categories consistently found to be at risk of exposure were nurses, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy receivers. Up to 11 job categories per site may be at risk of exposure at some point during the hospital medication system. CONCLUSION: We found drug contamination on select surfaces at every stage of the medication system, which indicates the existence of an exposure potential throughout the facility. Our results suggest that a broader range of workers are potentially exposed than has been previously examined. These results will allow us to develop a more inclusive exposure assessment encompassing all healthcare workers that are at risk throughout the hospital medication system.

Patient Safety in Drug Therapy and the Influence of the Prescription in Dose Errors / Segurança do paciente na terapêutica medicamentosa e a influência da prescrição médica nos erros de dose / Seguridad del paciente en la terapéutica medicamentosa y la influencia de la prescripción médica en los errores de dosis

The aims of this study were to analyze the redaction of the prescription in dose errors that occurred in general medical units of five Brazilian hospitals and to identify the pharmacological classes involved in these errors. This was a descriptive study that used secondary data obtained from a multicenter study conducted in 2005. The population consisted of 1,425 medication errors and the sample of 215 dose errors. Of these, 44.2 percent occurred in hospital E. The presence of acronyms and/or abbreviations was verified in 96.3 percent of prescriptions; absence of the patient registration in 54.4 percent; absence of posology in 18.1 percent; and omission of date of 0.9 percent. With respect to medication type, 16.8 percent were bronchodilators; 16.3 percent were analgesics; 12.1 percent, antihypertensives; and 8.4 percent were antibiotics. The absence of posology in the prescriptions may facilitate the administration of the wrong dose, resulting in inefficiency of the treatment, compromising the quality of care provided to hospitalized patients.

Os objetivos foram analisar a redação da prescrição médica nos erros de doses, ocorridos em unidades de clínica médica de cinco hospitais brasileiros, e identificar as classes farmacológicas envolvidas nesses erros. Este é estudo descritivo que utilizou dados secundários, obtidos de pesquisa multicêntrica, realizada em 2005. A população foi composta por 1425 erros de medicação e a amostra por 215 erros de doses. Desses, 44,2 por cento ocorreram no hospital E. Verificou-se presença de siglas e/ou abreviaturas em 96,3 por cento das prescrições, ausência do registro do paciente em 54,4 por cento, falta de posologia em 18,1 por cento e omissão da data em 0,9 por cento. Com relação ao tipo de medicamento, 16,8 por cento eram broncodilatadores, 16,3 por cento eram analgésicos, 12,1 por cento, anti-hipertensivos e 8,4 por cento eram antimicrobianos. A ausência da posologia nas prescrições pode favorecer a administração de doses erradas, resultando em ineficiência do tratamento, comprometendo a qualidade da assistência prestada aos pacientes hospitalizados.

Los objetivos fueron analizar la redacción de la prescripción médica en los errores de dosis ocurridos en unidades de clínica médica de cinco hospitales brasileños e identificar las clases farmacológicas envueltas en esos errores. Se trata de estudio descriptivo que utilizó datos secundarios obtenidos de en una investigación multicéntrica realizada en 2005. La población fue compuesta de 1.425 errores de medicación y la muestra por 215 errores de dosis. De estos, 44,2 por ciento ocurrieron en el hospital E. Se verificó: presencia de siglas y/o abreviaturas en 96,3 por ciento de las prescripciones; ausencia del registro del paciente en 54,4 por ciento; falta de posología en 18,1 por ciento, y omisión de la fecha en 0,9 por ciento. Con relación al tipo de medicamento, 16,8 por ciento eran broncodilatadores; 16,3 por ciento eran analgésicos; 12,1 por ciento, antihipertensivos y 8,4 por ciento eran antimicrobianos. La ausencia de la posología en las prescripciones puede favorecer la administración de dosis equivocadas, resultando en ineficiencia del tratamiento, comprometiendo así, la calidad de la asistencia prestada a los pacientes hospitalizados.

Medication dispensing errors at a public pediatric hospital / Errores de despacho de medicamentos en un hospital público pediátrico / Erros de dispensação de medicamentos em um hospital público pediátrico

OBJECTIVE: assess the safety of medication dispensing processes through the dispensing error rate. METHOD: Cross-sectional study carried out at a pharmaceutical service of a pediatric hospital in Espírito Santo, Brazil. Data collection was performed between August and September 2006, totaling 2620 prescribed medication doses. Any deviation from the medical prescription in dispensing medication was considered a dispensing error. THE CATEGORIES OF MEDICATION ERRORS WERE: content, labeling, and documentation errors. The dispensing error rate was computed by dividing the number of errors by the total of dispensed doses. RESULTS: From the 300 identified errors, 262 (87.3 percent) were content errors. The rate of errors in the labeling and documentation categories was 33 (11 percent) and 5 (1.7 percent), respectively. CONCLUSION: The total dispensing error rate was higher than rates reported in international studies. The most frequent category was "content error".

OBJETIVO: Evaluar la seguridad en el despacho de medicamentos a través de la determinación de la tasa de errores de despacho. MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal que evaluó 2620 dosis de medicamentos despachados entre agosto y septiembre de 2006 en un servicio de farmacia de un hospital pediátrico del Estado de Espíritu Santo, Brasil. Los errores de despacho fueron definidos como cualquier desvío ocurrido entre lo despachado y lo prescrito en la receta médica. Los errores fueron categorizados en contenido, rótulo y documentación. La tasa de error de despacho fue calculada dividiendo el número de errores total por el número total de dosis despachadas. RESULTADOS: de los 300 errores identificados, 262 (87,3 por ciento) fueron de contenido. En las categorías errores de rótulo la tasa fue de 33 (11 por ciento) y 5 (1.7 por ciento) en la de errores de documentación. CONCLUSIÓN: la tasa total de errores de despacho fue elevada cuando se compara con la descrita en estudios internacionales. La categoría de error más frecuente fue la de "error de contenido".

Avaliar a segurança na dispensação de medicamentos através da determinação da taxa de erros de dispensação constituiu o objetivo deste trabalho. O método utilizado foi o estudo transversal que avaliou 2 620 doses de medicamentos dispensados entre agosto e setembro de 2006, em um serviço de farmácia de um hospital pediátrico do Espírito Santo. Os erros de dispensação foram definidos como qualquer desvio entre o dispensado e o prescrito na receita médica. Os erros foram categorizados em conteúdo, rotulagem e documentação. A taxa de erro de dispensação foi calculada dividindo o número de erros total/total de doses dispensadas. Os resultados mostraram que, dos 300 erros identificados, 262 (87,3 por cento) foram de conteúdo. Nas categorias erros de rotulagem a taxa foi de 33 (11 por cento) e 5 (1,7 por cento) na de erros de documentação. Concluiu-se que a taxa total de erros de dispensação foi elevada quando comparada à descrita em estudos internacionais. A categoria de erro mais freqüente foi a de erro de conteúdo.