Abstract

ROLE OF PHARMACIST IN PREVENTION OF MEDICATION ER-RORS IN HOSPITALS AND COMMUNITY SETTINGS

Ayesha Ishfaq, Shazmin Javed and Saleha Sadeeqa*

ABSTRACT

Background: Medication error is currently one of the major public health issues worldwide. This will lead to patient non-compliance to-wards therapy due to adverse drug reactions. The study aims to evalu-ate the most commonly occurring medication errors in hospital and community settings and role of pharmacist for the prevention of these daily occurring medication errors. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was adopted using convenient sampling technique, during the period June-2017 to August-2017. A sample size of 150 pharmacists was taken and data was collected from hospitals and chain pharmacies of Lahore Pakistan. Pharmacists working in hospital and community settings were included in study. Data collection form was designed and filled during face to face interviews with pharmacists. Results: The results showed that the most common medi-cation errors were during the ordering and prescription stage (35%). Medication errors during transcription, dispensing and at administration were 30%, 15% and 20% respectively. 10% pharmacists observed the cases of untreated indications. 20%of improper drug selection, 30% of sub therapeutic dosage, 33%of over dosage and 70% therapeutic duplication in prescrip-tions. Pharmacists observed that 18% medical problems are due to adverse drug reactions, 30% medication errors reported in daily prescriptions, 40% pharmacist had collaboration with physician and other health care providers. 9% pharmacist did interventions to reduce inci-dence of medication errors, of which 17% were accepted by physicians and patients. Conclu-sion: The role of hospital and community pharmacist was effective in recognizing, designing and implementing tailored interventions for reduction of medication errors.

Keywords: Medication Errors, Pharmacist, Prescription, Transcription, Untreated Indica-tions, Therapeutic Duplication.