The associations of alike drugs, adjacent drugs, poly-drug prescriptions, and period of pharmacy services to the risk of medication errors in pharmacy dispensing: Case study in pharmacy department, Sai Mun hospital

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to assess the associations of alike drugs, drug placement, poly-pharmacy prescriptions, and period of pharmacy services to the risk of pre-dispensing and dispensing error: a case study at pharmacy department, Sai Mun hospital. The prescriptions from out-patient department were collected for 4 months from August 1st, 2009 to November 30th, 2009 (Monday to Friday from 8.00-12.00 am and 13.00-16.00 pm). Medication errors and the data of alike drugs, drug placement, poly-pharmacy prescriptions, and period of pharmacy services were recorded in medication errors and associated factors forms. Medication error was analyzed by descriptive statistics and the associations were explained by binary multiple logistic regression analysis. Occurred of 8,053 sampled prescriptions, 203 medication erorrs (2.5%) occured in pharmacy department, of which 197 errors (2.45%) were pre-dispensing errors and 6 erorrs (0.07%) were dispensing errors. The binary multiple logistic regression analysis showed the significant factors related to medication errors as follow (p 11 drug items than those with single item for 9.490, and 18.907 times, respectively (OR = 9.490, 95%CI = 2.098 -42.926 for 7-11 drug items, and OR = 18.907, 95%CI = 3.385 -105.587 for > 11 drug items), and morning pharmacy services were more likely to have medication errors for 1.973 times comparing with afternoon service (OR = 1.973, 95%CI = 1.221 - 3.187). The associations between medication errors and these following variables; sound-alike drugs, various strengths of same drug, poly-pharmacy prescriptions, and performing pharmacy services in the morning could help pharmacists and assistants for increase awareness to prevent and decrease medication errors in pharmacy dispensing, Sai Mun hospital. Keywords: the risk of medication errors in pharmacy dispensing, medication errors.