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. 2002 Mar;53(3):326-31.
doi: 10.1046/j.0306-5251.2001.bjcp1558.doc.x.

Hospital prescribing errors: epidemiological assessment of predictors

R Fijn  1 , P M L A Van den Bemt, M Chow, C J De Blaey, L T W De Jong-Van den Berg, J R B J Brouwers
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Hospital prescribing errors: epidemiological assessment of predictors

R Fijn et al. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2002 Mar.

Abstract

Aims: To demonstrate an epidemiological method to assess predictors of prescribing errors.

Methods: A retrospective case-control study, comparing prescriptions with and without errors.

Results: Only prescriber and drug characteristics were associated with errors. Prescriber characteristics were medical specialty (e.g. orthopaedics: OR: 3.4, 95% CI 2.1, 5.4) and prescriber status (e.g. verbal orders transcribed by nursing staff: OR: 2.5, 95% CI 1.8, 3.6). Drug characteristics were dosage form (e.g. inhalation devices: OR: 4.1, 95% CI 2.6, 6.6), therapeutic area (e.g. gastrointestinal tract: OR: 1.7, 95% CI 1.2, 2.4) and continuation of preadmission treatment (Yes: OR: 1.7, 95% CI 1.3, 2.3).

Conclusions: Other hospitals could use our epidemiological framework to identify their own error predictors. Our findings suggest a focus on specific prescribers, dosage forms and therapeutic areas. We also found that prescriptions originating from general practitioners involved errors and therefore, these should be checked when patients are hospitalized.

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