PRESCRIPTION ERRORS: PREVENTABLE MEDICATION ERRORS
Wajiha Gul*
Abstract
Prescription errors can cause failure in treating the patients but are
preventable. These can occur when the prescription either lacks any of
the important information regarding the patient or the drug and also
when incorrect information is present on the prescription. A four
months study was conducted in which out of 680 prescriptions, 312
were selected having altogether 846 errors. The errors were
categorized as errors of omission and errors of commission and also
were analyzed and calculated. The lacking in the prescription writing
process which should be overcome. For this the pharmacist and the
physician should work together to eliminate the errors. The causes of
prescription errors should be reduced and the prescriptions should be
monitored and the preventive steps should be taken to minimize them.
Keywords: prescription errors, errors of omission, errors of commission, causes, preventive measures.
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