Evaluation of errors in the distribution system and control of drugs: The case of a private hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Medication errors may arise during the process of prescribing, transcribing, dispensing, preparation, and administration of any drug. The objective of this study was to quantify the detectable incidence of medication errors that occur in the distribution system and control of drugs administration. Methods: A descriptive non-experimental crosssectional investigation was performed. The data collection instrument consisted on a system of voluntary and anonymous reporting methods. Results: The particularity of the study was that of the total number of tickets under study, only 25 had errors (0.56%). The error incidence rate obtained in this institution result much lower than a previous study conducted by us, in the subsector of Social Security of Paraguay (6.3% vs. 0.56%). The most prevalent error was due to incorrect business name (64%), while the one with the lowest prevalence was referred to the wrong patient and medication unsolicited (4%). Most of the errors detected occurred during transcription (56%). 80% of the errors were detected by pharmacy technicians, 12% bynurses, and 8% by attendees. The particular organization of the hospital and the control carried out in different instances keep a relatively low level of medication errors. The consequences of the errors and the importance of the pharmacist’s role in the detection, prevention, and resolution of these problems were crucial factors in the case studied. Conclusion: Determining the incidence and type of medication error in the different parts of an interaction chain process, allows to analyze its causes, and to make changes where these errors are detected, in order to provide the users of the health system a better care service. Since the commitment of the different health actors involved is decisive to avoid medical errors, it is important to encourage them to support surveillance actions to strengthen good prescription practices.