Medication Dispensing Errors in Community Pharmacies: A Nationwide Study

The available literature concerning medication dispensing errors provides relatively few studies that focus on community-based pharmacies. This paper presents the results of a nationwide, observation-based study of dispensing errors. Although community-based pharmacies were the primary focus, a small number of health-system pharmacies were also included. Investigators collected information concerning the frequency and type of errors and near errors as well as data regarding a number of task and environmental factors previously correlated with dispensing errors. A total of 5,784 prescriptions were inspected, revealing 91 errors (1.57%) and 74 near errors (1.28%). Errors were categorized as either content (41.76%) or labeling (58.24%) errors. Results are consistent with findings in the available literature. In particular, lighting levels, type of inspection system used (e.g., bar code product verification), number of available employees, and the arrangement of drug stock were significantly associated with both types of errors.

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Role of telepharmacy in pharmacist counselling to coronavirus disease 2019 patients and medication dispensing errors

Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare ◽

10.1177/1357633x20964347 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1357633X2096434 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Osama M Ibrahim ◽

Rana M Ibrahim ◽

Ahmad Z Al Meslamani ◽

Nadia Al Mazrouei

Keyword(s):

Pharmaceutical Care ◽

United Arab Emirates ◽

Control Group ◽

Community Pharmacies ◽

Pharmacist Interventions ◽

Patient Status ◽

Collection Form ◽

The Impact ◽

Dispensing Errors ◽

Medication Dispensing

Introduction Remote pharmacist interventions have achieved much more attention during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, since they reduce the risk of transmission and can potentially increase the access of vulnerable populations, such as patients with COVID-19, to pharmaceutical care. This study aimed to examine differences in rates and types of pharmacist interventions related to COVID-19 and medication dispensing errors (MDEs) across community pharmacies with and without telepharmacy services. Methods This was a prospective, disguised, observational study conducted over four months (from March 2020 to July 2020) in 52 community pharmacies (26 with and 26 without telepharmacy) across all seven states of the United Arab Emirates using proportionate random sampling. A standardised data-collection form was developed to include information about patient status, pharmacist interventions and MDEs. Results The test (telepharmacy) group pharmacies provided pharmaceutical care to 19,974 patients, of whom 6371 (31.90%) and 1213 (6.07%) were probable and confirmed cases of COVID-19, respectively. The control group pharmacies provided care to 9151 patients, of whom 1074 (11.74%) and 33 (0.36%) were probable and confirmed cases of COVID-19, respectively. Rates of MDEs and their subcategories, prescription-related errors and pharmacist counselling errors across pharmacies with telepharmacy versus those without remote services were 15.81% versus 19.43% ( p < 0.05), 5.38% versus 10.08% ( p < 0.05) and 10.42% versus 9.35% ( p > 0.05), respectively. Discussion This is one of the first studies to provide high-quality evidence of the impact of telepharmacy on COVID-19 patients’ access to pharmaceutical care and on medication dispensing safety.

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The effect of educational interventions on medication dispensing errors: a randomised controlled trial in community pharmacies in Jordan

Drugs & Therapy Perspectives ◽

10.1007/s40267-021-00846-x ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Derar H. Abdel-Qader ◽

Ahmad Z. Al Meslamani ◽

Nadia Al Mazrouei ◽

Salim Hamadi ◽

Osama Mohamed Ibrahim

Keyword(s):

Randomised Controlled Trial ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Educational Interventions ◽

Community Pharmacies ◽

Randomised Controlled ◽

Dispensing Errors ◽

Medication Dispensing

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Medication Dispensing Errors and Potential Adverse Drug Events before and after Implementing Bar Code Technology in the Pharmacy

Annals of Internal Medicine ◽

10.7326/0003-4819-145-6-200609190-00006 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 145 (6) ◽

pp. 426 ◽

Cited By ~ 182

Author(s):

Eric G. Poon ◽

Jennifer L. Cina ◽

William Churchill ◽

Nirali Patel ◽

Erica Featherstone ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Adverse Drug Events ◽

Bar Code ◽

Before And After ◽

Dispensing Errors ◽

Medication Dispensing

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Dispensing errors in community pharmacies in the United Arab Emirates: investigating incidence, types, severity, and causes

Pharmacy Practice ◽

10.18549/pharmpract.2020.4.2111 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 2111 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Osama Mohamed Ibrahim ◽

Rana M. Ibrahim ◽

Ahmad Z. Al Meslamani ◽

Nadia Al Mazrouei

Keyword(s):

United Arab Emirates ◽

National Study ◽

Community Pharmacies ◽

Fundamental Function ◽

Wrong Drug ◽

Causes Of Errors ◽

Training Programmes ◽

Method Approach ◽

Dispensing Errors ◽

Medication Dispensing

Background: Medication dispensing is a fundamental function of community pharmacies, and errors that occur during the dispensing process are a major threat to patient safety. However, to date there has been no national study of medication dispensing errors in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Objective: The study aimed to investigate the incidence, types, clinical significance, causes and predictors of medication dispensing errors. Methods: The study was conducted in randomly selected community pharmacies (n=350) across all regions of UAE over six months using a mixed-method approach, incorporating prospective disguised observation of dispensing errors and interviews with pharmacists regarding the causes of errors. A multidisciplinary committee, which included an otolaryngologist, a general practitioner and a clinical pharmacist, evaluated the severity of errors. SPSS (Version 26) was used for data analysis. Results: The overall rate of medication dispensing errors was 6.7% (n=30912/ 464222), of which 2.6% (n=12274/464222) were prescription-related errors and 4.1% (n= 18638/464222) pharmacist counselling errors. The most common type of prescription-related errors was wrong quantity (30.0%), whereas the most common pharmacist counselling error was wrong drug (32.1%). The majority of errors were caused by medicine replaced with near expire one (24.7%) followed by look-alike/sound-alike drugs (22.3%). The majority of errors were moderate (46.8%) and minor (44.5%); 8.7% were serious errors. Predictors of medication dispensing errors were: grade A pharmacies (dispensing  60 prescriptions a day (OR 2.1; 95%CI 1.4-3.6; p=0.03) and prescriptions containing ≥4 medication orders (OR 2.5; 95%CI 1.7-4.3; p=0.01). Conclusions: Medication dispensing errors are common in the UAE and our findings can be generalised and considered as a reference to launch training programmes on safe medication dispensing practice.

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MEDICATION DISPENSING ERRORS IN URBAN PHARMACIES: IMPLEMENTING BAR CODE TECHNOLOGY

Acta healthmedica ◽

10.19082/ah122 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 122-123

Author(s):

Mohsen Masoumi ◽

Mohammad Reza Hasibian ◽

Hasan Vakili-Arki ◽

Zhila Taherzadeh ◽

Ehsan Nabovati ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bar Code ◽

Dispensing Errors ◽

Medication Dispensing

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The effect of community pharmacist education and training on medication dispensing and counselling

10.31124/advance.7769456.v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

lina eltaib ◽

mohamed ali mujtaba ◽

hind rikabi

Keyword(s):

Community Pharmacist ◽

Education And Training ◽

Dispensing Practices ◽

And Training ◽

Interview Questionnaire ◽

Pharmacist Education ◽

Dispensing Errors ◽

Medication Dispensing

Background: There is a great deal of concern surrounding the dispensing practices; a majority of studies conducted in the KSA indicated that the risk of dispensing errors was increasing. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of community pharmacist education and training on medication dispensing and counselling. Methods: The data was collected by the researchers with a designed pretested interview questionnaire. Shadowing enabled the researcher to understand the user's perspective.

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Participatory Mapping for Community Health Assessment on the US-Mexico Border

Practicing Anthropology ◽

10.17730/praa.29.4.m85738q7g07370h5 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 34-38 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ben McMahan ◽

Brian Burke

Keyword(s):

Health Assessment ◽

Participatory Mapping ◽

Community Based ◽

Data Resource ◽

Community Based Research ◽

Gis Data ◽

Mexico Border ◽

Primary Focus ◽

Ambos Nogales ◽

The University

In this paper, we present partial results and discussion of a community environmental health project in Nogales to illustrate how participatory mapping was applied to an existing project that had been participatory and community-based since it was initiated over six years ago. The GIS portion of the project was arranged via a partnership with the University of Arizona's Center for Applied Spatial Analysis (CASA) and was initially conceived as a means by which we could assemble a spatial database for Ambos, Nogales that would not only facilitate this project's immediate goals, but would also serve as a long-term GIS-data resource for the ongoing projects operating in and around Nogales associated with the University of Arizona's Bureau of Applied Research in Anthropology (BARA). While we are interested in the spatial analytics of the GIS data and the potential for future work in this arena, our primary focus for this paper is on the practice of mapping and the interaction in response to/with these maps that emerged as part of this process. Integrating a mapping component into an existing participatory research project was an opportunity to conceptualize how participatory mapping might be added to (or perhaps already occurring in) a community-based research context, as well as to consider how effective or useful this addition might be in aiding analysis, facilitating project goals, and promoting continued interaction with research participants. But before we can talk about the process and outcomes, first, a bit more information on the context itself.

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Educational Principles of Community-based Education

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.98.6.1259 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 98 (6) ◽

pp. 1259-1263

Author(s):

Kenneth B. Roberts

Keyword(s):

Medical Education ◽

Adult Learning ◽

Medical School ◽

Needs Assessment ◽

Teaching And Learning ◽

Educational Experiences ◽

Community Based ◽

Community Based Education ◽

Primary Focus ◽

School Curricula

Much of medical education remains teacher centered, as exemplified by the continued emphasis on lectures. Increasingly, however, the importance of the learner is being recognized and acknowledged in medical school curricula. The distinction between teaching and learning is also an issue for graduate medical education; accreditation bodies focus on programs and teaching, and credentialing bodies determine whether individuals have accomplished sufficient learning. The true mission of teaching is to facilitate learning, and adult learning is enhanced by four elements: respect, building on previous experiences, immediacy of application, and the opportunity to practice. These elements should be considered when designing educational experiences in the community. Educational planning includes five steps, represented by the mnemonic GNOME: goals, needs assessment, objectives, methods, and evaluation. Goals are broad aspirations, which are refined by the learners' needs to specific, measurable objectives. Methods are selected to match the objective, and evaluation determines whether the objectives were achieved. The results of the evaluation serve as another needs assessment, and the process continues until the goals are achieved. Throughout the process, the primary focus should be on the resident, with the program in a supporting role.

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