Abstract

RIVAS R, EDITH; RIVAS L, ANGÉLICA  and  BUSTOS M, LUIS. Frequency of prescription and transcription errors for intravenous medications in four pediatric services. Rev. méd. Chile [online]. 2010, vol.138, n.12, pp.1524-1529. ISSN 0034-9887.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0034-98872010001300008.

Background: Errors in the prescription and transcription of medications in pediatric services is a source of adverse events that can be prevented. Aim: To determine and compare the frequency of prescription and transcription errors for intravenous drugs in four pediatric services in a regional general hospital. Material and Methods: Cross sectional analysis of a probabilistic sample of 500 prescriptions of intravenous medications. Information was gathered using an instrument from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Results: The detected prescription errors were illegible indications in 20%, lack of dosing indication in 11%, omission of the administration route in 24% and omission of the frequency of administration in 15%. Transcription errors were illegible transcription in 3%, not transcribing all indicated medications in 4% and transcription of medications that were not prescribed in 3%. Twenty one percent of prescriptions and 6% of transcriptions had at least one incorrect action. In the different services studied there was a significant association between the percentage of incorrect prescriptions and transcriptions and between illegible prescriptions and transcriptions. Conclusions: A high percentage of errors in prescription of intravenous medications and their transcriptions, was detected in these services. A better quality of care control is required.

Keywords : Drug prescriptions; Errors, medication; Intravenous injections.

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