Adherence to the Australian National Inpatient Medication Chart: the efficacy of a uniform national drug chart on improving prescription error

Abstract

Background: In 2006, the National Inpatient Medication Chart (NIMC) was introduced as a uniform medication chart in Australian public hospitals with the aim of reducing prescription error.

Purpose: The rate of regular medication prescription error in the NIMC was assessed.

Methods: Data was collected using the NIMC Audit Tool and analyzed with respect to causes of error per medication prescription and per medication chart. The following prescription requirements were assessed: date, generic drug name, route of administration, dose, frequency, administration time, indication, signature, name and contact details.

Findings: A total of 1877 medication prescriptions were reviewed. 1653 prescriptions (88.07%) had no contact number, 1630 (86.84%) did not have an indication, 1230 and 675 (35.96%) used a drug's trade name. Within 261 medication charts, all had at least one entry, which did not include an indication, 258 (98.85%) had at least one entry, which did not have a contact number and 200 (76.63%) had at least one entry, which used a trade name.

Discussion: The introduction of a uniform national medication chart is a positive step, but more needs to be done to address the root causes of prescription error.

Keywords: National Inpatient Medication Chart; clinical evaluation; drug prescription; health policy; health systems; patient safety; prescription error.