Impact of Laboratory Data Included on In-hospital Prescriptions on Prescription Questions

Abstract

) were compared with those before inclusion of laboratory data (October 1 -December 31, 2010). The rate of prescription questions was significantly higher after compared with before the inclusion of laboratory data (2.30％ vs 2.04％, respectively; P = 0.020). In particular, the number of prescription questions referring to laboratory data showed a 3.5-fold greater increase after the inclusion of laboratory data on inhospital prescriptions (P < 0.001). Prescription questions referring to laboratory data included on prescriptions were associated with a prescription revision rate of 65.6％. Prescription questions referring to laboratory data involved clarification of the doses of medications, such as levofloxacin and famotidine, in patients with impaired renal function. These results indicate that the inclusion of laboratory data on in-hospital prescriptions is useful for efficiently extracting those requiring clarification.