Abstract

MEDICATION PRESCRIBING ERRORS IN PAEDIATRIC OUTPATIENTS PRESCRIPTIONS AT A PAEDIATRIC HOSPITAL IN NEPAL

Dr. Sunil Shrestha* Dr. Prayash Ghimire, Dr. Laxman Wagle and Renu Shrestha

ABSTRACT

Medication errors are potential errors and can be prevented. Identification of these errors can help to reduce further injuries. The study was conducted with objective to determine the prevalence and nature of medication errors in pediatric out-patients and also to study their prescribing pattern. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in International Friendship Children Hospital, Maharajgunj, Nepal for a period of 3 weeks during which 205 outpatient prescriptions were studied for medication error after taking patient consent. Data were collected in data collection form through prescription for prescription error. Data were analyzed using SPSS. Results: Among 205 prescriptions, 117 (57.1%) were males and 88 (42.9%) were females where they were prescribed with 3.35 number of average drugs. We found 165 prescribing medication errors among 688 drugs prescribed. The prevalence of omission of drug duration was the highest (36.96%), followed by unintentional prescription of drug (32.12%), frequency missing (6.66%) and overdose error (9.70%). The other types of errors observed were under-dose (4.85%), no indication (2.43%), and incorrect frequency (2.43%), omission of dose/strength (1.82%) and omission of patient’s weight (1.21%). The major diseases diagnosed during the study were acute respiratory infection (48.1%) and the major drugs prescribed were antibiotics, antihistamines, anti-inflammatory and expectorants.

Keywords: paediatric prescribing pattern, medication prescribing error.