The effect of the electronic transmission of prescriptions on dispensing errors and prescription enhancements made in English community pharmacies: a naturalistic stepped wedge study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To compare prevalence and types of dispensing errors and pharmacists' labelling enhancements, for prescriptions transmitted electronically versus paper prescriptions.

Design

Naturalistic stepped wedge study.

Setting

15 English community pharmacies.

Intervention

Electronic transmission of prescriptions between prescriber and pharmacy.

Main outcome measures

Prevalence of labelling errors, content errors and labelling enhancements (beneficial additions to the instructions), as identified by researchers visiting each pharmacy.

Results

Overall, we identified labelling errors in 5.4% of 16,357 dispensed items, and content errors in 1.4%; enhancements were made for 13.6%. Pharmacists also edited the label for a further 21.9% of electronically

SUBMITTER: Franklin BD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4112418 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature