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. 2018;27(3):290-292.
doi: 10.1159/000487307. Epub 2018 Jan 31.

Completeness and Legibility of Handwritten Prescriptions in Sana'a, Yemen

Yaser Mohammed Al-Worafi  1   2 , Rahul P Patel  3 , Syed Tabish Razi Zaidi  3 , Wafa Mohammed Alseragi  4 , Masaad Saeed Almutairi  5 , Ali Saleh Alkhoshaiban  5 , Long Chiau Ming  3   6
Affiliations

Completeness and Legibility of Handwritten Prescriptions in Sana'a, Yemen

Yaser Mohammed Al-Worafi et al. Med Princ Pract. 2018.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the completeness and legibility of prescriptions dispensed in community pharmacies located in Sana'a, Yemen.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at 23 randomly selected community pharmacies throughout the capital city of Sana'a, Yemen, from May 2015 to January 2016. A total of 2,178 prescriptions were analyzed for the essential elements of a complete prescription using a validated checklist.

Results: Of the 2,178 prescriptions, 19 (0.87%) were considered to be of good quality. The remaining 2,159 (99.12%) were considered as being of very poor quality. Writing errors relating to patients and prescribed medications were the most common errors.

Conclusion: In this study, the quality of prescription writing was found to be very poor. Hence, continuous professional development programs are recommended to improve the quality of prescription writing among physicians. Future studies in other cities and investigation of the impact of continuous educational programs on the quality of prescription writing are strongly recommended.

Keywords: Computerized physician order entry; Medication error; Medication safety; Pharmacy practice; Prescribing error.

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