Pharmacist-Initiated Medication Error-Reporting and Monitoring Programme in a Developing Country Scenario

Abstract

Medication errors (MEs) often prelude guilt and fear in health care professionals (HCPs), thereby resulting in under-reporting and further compromising patient safety. To improve patient safety, we conducted a study on the implementation of a voluntary medication error-reporting and monitoring programme. The ME reporting system was established using the principles based on prospective, voluntary, open, anonymous, and stand-alone surveillance in a tertiary care teaching hospital located in South India. A prospective observational study was carried out for three years and a voluntary Medication Error-reporting Form was developed to report medication errors MEs that had occurred in patients of either sex were included in the study, and the reporters were given the choice to remain anonymous. The analysis was carried out and discussed with HCPs to minimise the recurrence. A total of 1310 medication errors were reported among 20,256 hospitalised patients and the incidence was 6.4%. Common aetiologies were administration errors [501 (38.2%)], followed by prescribing and transcribing errors [363 (28%)]. Root-cause of these MEs were distractions, workload, and communications. Analgesics/antipyretics (19.4%) and antibiotics (15.7%) were the most commonly implicated classes of medications. A clinical pharmacist initiated non-punitive anonymous ME reporting system could improve patient safety.

Medication Errors among Healthcare Workers in a Major HIV Treatment Centre in Nigeria

“…The errors observed in the current study were mainly of the NCCMERP category D classification which represents errors that reached the patient but requires monitoring to ensure no harm has been done to the patient. Contrary to our findings Chalsani et al [24] and Sheik et al [10] reported errors of NCCMERP category A and C respectively as their most prevalent error category. Though these studies have reported varying prevalent NCCMERP error categories, intensified patient monitoring of treatment outcome should be generally enforced to enable early detection of the aftermath medication errors.…”

An Overview on Patient-Centered Clinical Services

“…Although few reports have uttered the improvement in medication error management by involving clinical pharmacists, there is insufficient knowledge in some of the developing countries 19 , such as Iran. A clinical drug store residency program was begun in the year 1994 in Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are life-threatening situations.…”

Clinical Pharmacists in Chronic Care

“…They obtain medical and medication history, check medication errors including prescription, dispensing and administration errors, identify drug interactions, monitor ADR, suggest individualization of dosage regimen, provide patient counseling, etc. [29][30][31][32][33][34][35]. They also provide information about the use of drugs and medical devices like inhaler, insulin pen, eye drops, nasal sprays, etc.…”