Dispensing errors in hospital pharmacies: A prospective study in Yemen

Abstract AimsThe aim of this study was to describe the dispensing errors that occurred during the dispensing process in selected hospital pharmacies in Sana’a, Yemen; and to describe their types and causes.MethodologyA prospective study was carried out in selected hospital pharmacies in Yemen over 40 days using a validated tool. ResultsA total of 9000 dispensed prescriptions were evaluated for the dispensing errors and 2.13 % dispensing errors were identified. Wrong dosage form (134/192); wrong strength (24/192); wrong drug (18/192); wrong quantity, wrong instructions written and drug available in the pharmacy but not given were (6/192) and dispense the expired drugs (3/192) were the reported dispensing errors in this study. Poor handwriting, similar drug names, similar drug packaging, fatigue, heavy work, workforce issues, and poor communication were the most common reported causes of dispensing errors. ConclusionThe prevalence of dispensing errors in this study was 2.13%. Pharmacists can play an important role in the improving the safety of medicines. Study of the dispensing errors incidence in national wide, it's types and causes of dispensing errors are very important and highly recommended. Study the impact of different interventions to improve dispensing quality, reducing and preventing dispensing errors are strongly recommended.

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DISPENSING ERRORS OBSERVED BY COMMUNITY PHARMACY DISPENSERS IN IBB - YEMEN

Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research ◽

10.22159/ajpcr.2018.v11i11.28382 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 478 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Yaser Mohammed Al-worafi

Keyword(s):

Community Pharmacy ◽

Educational Interventions ◽

Community Pharmacies ◽

Error Type ◽

Similar Drug ◽

Wrong Drug ◽

Collaboration And Communication ◽

Collection Form ◽

A Prospective Study ◽

Dispensing Errors

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the dispensing errors, its types, and causes in community pharmacies in Ibb, Yemen.Methods: A prospective study was conducted among community pharmacies in the Ibb, Yemen, over 4 months’ period. Dispensing errors that were detected during the dispensing process were recorded by the pharmacy dispensers using a data collection form. Detecting and reporting of dispensing errors, types, and causes of dispensing errors were explained to the participated pharmacists before starting the study. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences® (IBM SPSS) version 21 for Windows.Results: A total of 35 (0.80%) dispensing errors were reported in this study. Wrong dosage form was the most common dispensing error type reported in this study followed by wrong quantity, wrong strength, and wrong drug. Factors most commonly reported as contributing to dispensing errors in this study were prescriptions poor handwriting, similar medications packaging, more than one patient at the same time, and similar drug names.Conclusion: This study explored the type and causes of dispensing errors at five community pharmacies in the Ibb city, Yemen. Dispensing errors can be prevented by educational interventions about dispensing error’s and its potential causes. Effective collaboration and communication between community pharmacy dispensers and prescribers are an important key to minimize and prevent dispensing errors.

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