Abstract

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.