Errors in prescription - Common Prescription & Preventing Errors

Errors in prescription can occur at various stages, including during prescribing, dispensing, and administration.
These errors can compromise patient safety and treatment effectiveness.
Below are some common types of prescriptions errors:

Illegible Handwriting:
- Difficulty in reading the prescriber’s handwriting can lead to misinterpretation of the medication name, strength, or dosage instructions.
Incorrect Drug Selection:
- Confusion between drugs with similar names, appearances, or packaging can result in prescribing the wrong medication.
Inaccurate Dosing:
- Errors in dose calculation, improper unit conversions, or failure to consider patient-specific factors such as age, weight, or kidney function may lead to incorrect dosing.
Drug Interactions:
- Prescribing medications without considering potential interactions with other drugs the patient is taking can cause harmful side effects or reduce drug efficacy.
Allergy or Contraindication Oversight:
- Prescribing a medication without checking the patient’s known allergies or contraindications can lead to serious adverse reactions.

To minimize the risk of prescription errors, healthcare professionals should:
- Use electronic prescribing systems to reduce illegibility and calculation errors.
- Communicate clearly and concisely to ensure accurate interpretation of prescriptions.
- Encourage collaboration between prescribers and pharmacists to double-check for potential errors or drug interactions.
- Involve patients in their medication management by encouraging them to ask questions and clarify instructions.
By following these best practices, healthcare providers can help ensure patient safety and reduce the risk of prescription errors.