Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy (한국임상약학회지)

Korean College Of Clinical Pharmacy (한국임상약학회)
권호 표지

Analysis of Chemotherapy Prescribing Errors Detected by Pharmacists

약사에 의해 탐지된 항암제 처방오류 분석

  • Lee, Hyun-Ju (Department of Pharmacy, Yonsei University Medical Center) ;
  • Yang, Mi-Kyung (Department of Pharmacy, Yonsei University Medical Center) ;
  • Jo, Ju-Hee (Department of Pharmacy, Yonsei University Medical Center) ;
  • Kim, Sung-Eun (Department of Pharmacy, Yonsei University Medical Center) ;
  • Seok, Hyun-Ju (Department of Pharmacy, Yonsei University Medical Center) ;
  • Kim, Hyun-Ah (College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University)
  • 이현주 (연세대학교 세브란스병원 약무국) ;
  • 양미경 (연세대학교 세브란스병원 약무국) ;
  • 조주희 (연세대학교 세브란스병원 약무국) ;
  • 김성은 (연세대학교 세브란스병원 약무국) ;
  • 석현주 (연세대학교 세브란스병원 약무국) ;
  • 김현아 (서울대학교 약학대학)
  • Received : 2010.08.02
  • Accepted : 2010.09.05
  • Published : 2010.09.30
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Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify the type and frequency of chemotherapy-related prescribing errors and assess the pharmacist intervention in preventing potential harm. Methods: This study was performed in satellite pharmacy of oncology/hematology unit in tertiary teaching hospital from April to September, 2009. All chemotherapy prescribing errors detected by pharmacists were recorded. Frequency and characteristics of prescribing errors were analyzed. Pharmacists reviewed 28, 495 chemotherapy orders from 12,719 patients during 6-month periods. Results: A total of 835 prescription errors (2.93%) in 734 patients (5.77%) were detected by pharmacists. Alkylating agents (37.6%) followed by antimetabolite (23.35%), and mitotic inhibitors (21.44%) were the most prevalent classes in which errors occurs. The most common types of error detected were incorrect dose (34%), incorrect solution (33%), incorrect route (9%) and omission errors (8%). Changes in chemotherapy order due to pharmacists' intervention occurred in all error cases. Conclusion: Pharmacists' intervention in reviewing chemotherapy and drug orders intercepted potential harm due to prescribing errors. The current study provided strategies for reduction of medication errors.

Keywords

References

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