Investigation of Medication Errors: A Prescription Survey from Sri Lanka

• Published in: Tropical journal of pharmaceutical research Vol. 14; no. 11
• Main Authors: De Silva, K. I. M, Parakramawansha, K. P. R. C, Sudeshika, S. H. T, Gunawardhana, Chaminie B, Sakeena, M. H. F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pharmacotherapy Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria 27-01-2016
• Subjects: Medication error; Non-standard abbreviation; Prescriber information; Prescriptions; Standardized prescription writing
• ISSN: 1596-5996

Purpose: To identify and quantify possible errors in handwritten
outpatient prescriptions in relation to adherence to standard
guidelines on the layout and content of prescriptions. Method: A sample
of 200 handwritten outpatient prescriptions were collected from two
pharmacies located in a sub-urban (Aluthgama) and an urban (Kandy) area
in Sri Lanka. Data were extracted using a pilot-tested questionnaire
and the legibility of the prescription was assessed by three
independent investigators. The results from the suburban area were
compared with those from the urban area. Results: Based on the layout
of the prescription, the presence of patient information was
unsatisfactory. Patient name and age were present in less than half of
the prescriptions. However, prescriber information except registration
number was present in more than 75 % of the prescriptions. Date of
consultation was present in > 81.5 % of the prescriptions.
Non-standard abbreviations were used in 36.5 % of the prescriptions
while incomplete units were observed in 51 % of the prescriptions.
Nearly half of the prescriptions from both urban and suburban locations
were illegible. Occurrence of prescriber details was a significantly
different between Aluthgama and Kandy. Conclusion: Prescription errors
are common in outpatient settings of Aluthgama and Kandy areas in Sri
Lanka. Standardized prescription writing process in relation to layout,
use of abbreviations, and units and legibility, is proposed as a
potential solution to overcome this problem.