jrnls.org logo
Submit

BROWSE ALL JOURNALS

SEE ALL 19 JOURNALS
Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Community MedicineNOW IN
Communication

Prevalence and Types of Prescribing Errors at A Public Tertiary Care Centre in Malaysia

Chee-Tao Chang1★, Nalini Krishnasamy2, Harveen Kaur Olikh2, Kamaruddin N2, Huan-Keat Chan3, Mohamed Azmi Hassali4, Omar Thanoon Dawood4★ Corresponding author

  1. 1Clinical Research Centre, Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital, 30450 Ipoh, Perak, MALAYSIA.
  2. 2Department of Pharmacy, Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital, 30450 Ipoh, Perak, MALAYSIA.
  3. 3Clinical Research Centre, Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital, 05460 Alor Setar, Kedah, MALAYSIA.
  4. 4School of Pharmaceutical Sciences,University of Science MALAYSIA,11800 Gelugor, Penang, MALAYSIA.

CORRESPONDENCE

Chee-Tao Chang

Clinical Research Centre, Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital, 30450 Ipoh, Perak, MALAYSIA.

davidcct.crc@gmail.com

Received: 22-03-2018; Revised: 20-04-2018; Accepted: 21-05-2018.

Volume 4, Issue 2 · pp. 44–46 · PUBLISHED · DOI: 10.5530/jppcm.2018.2.12

View on JPPCM original site ↗

ABSTRACT

Background:The current study aimed to determine the prevalence and types of prescribing errors at a public tertiary care center in Malaysia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, undertaken at the Pharmacy Department of the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital, Ipoh. All the new prescriptions received during a four-week study period in 2012 were examined for prescribing errors. Results:Of the 11,009 prescriptions screened, 450 (4.1%) were found to have prescribing errors. The Emergency and Trauma Department (16.2%) recorded the highest number of errors. Omission and commission errors, respectively, constituted 56.4% and 40.2% of the cases, while 3.3% of the prescriptions contained illegible handwriting. Unspecified frequency (51.2%) and incorrect dosage (49.7%) were, respectively, the most common omission and commission errors. Conclusion:The findings confirm that prescribing error was common in the hospital. Efforts to reduce such errors, including the introduction of a system conducive to appropriate prescribing, are therefore warranted.

KEYWORDS

Open in new tab

REFERENCES

As published

Showing references and in-text citations exactly as published.

    Cite this article

    SELECT FORMAT

    Chang, C., Krishnasamy, N., Olikh, H. K., N, K., Chan, H., Hassali, M. A., & Dawood, O. T. (). Prevalence and Types of Prescribing Errors at A Public Tertiary Care Centre in Malaysia. Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Community Medicine, 4(2), 44–46. https://doi.org/10.5530/jppcm.2018.2.12