Results of the model for minimizing the risk of errors in prescription for outpatients at Hai Phong International Hospital in 2019

Abstract

The study is conducted retrospectively on 1,000 outpatient prescriptions in 2018 and 2019 to describe results of the model for minimizing the risk of errors in outpatient prescriptions at Hai Phong International Hospital. Results We found that 100% of prescriptions met the prescription standards. The number of prescriptions using supplement drugs, vitamins and minerals decreased by nearly 50%. The proportion of prescriptions lacking instructions on drug administration and dose regimen decreased sharply. The prescriptions calling for breaking or crushing the pills when it is not advisable to do so have almost disappeared. The percentage of preseciptions where drug interactions are found decreased from 29.8% to 17.8%, and percentage of prescriptions with contraindications decreased from 6.2% to 0.4%. The rate of drug error and treatment
time/interval also decreased (the percentage of prescriptions with wrong drug decreased by 18.1%, the percentage of prescriptions with wrong time/duration of treatment decreased by 25%). This study showed that errors in outpatient prescribtions could be limited by an error mitigation model that includes interventions ranging from the support of clinical pharmacists to application of drug interaction warnings andform of instructions for use when prescribing.