THE PRACTICE AND PERCEPTION OF HOSPITAL PHARMACISTS TOWARDS ERRORS IN DISPENSING MEDICINES AND THEIR POSSIBLE CAUSES IN OMDURMAN MILITARY HOSPITAL, SUDAN

Abstract

Introduction: Hospital pharmacies dispensing errors are common and investigating them for identifying factors involved in it and developing strategies to minimize their occurrence. Errors can arise at any stage during the dispensing process. Dispensing errors were identified by checking the prescribed drug against the dispensed medication.

Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study involving 100 pharmacists who were administered a survey research designed to assess pharmacists' attitudes, factors associated with DEs and involvement in DE, conducted between 1^st January 2019 and 1^st February 2019 at Omdurman Military Hospital (OMH) Pharmacies. A data analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences software version 21.

Results: 55% from the pharmacists in the study have poor attitude toward dispensing errors. The most common factors influencing dispensing errors as stated by participants were lack of therapeutic training (stated by 81%), 62% from the participants stated that workload and time pressure are causes of dispensing errors in area of factors associated with the work environment. 48% from the pharmacists in the study committing dispensing errors, 41.7% from them committed dispensing errors once while 23% committed fourth or more.

Conclusion: With the multiplicity of risk factors in our environment, there is urgent need to reinforce the training of pharmacists and the provision of resource materials and enabling work environment aimed at minimizing medication errors.

                                

Peer Review History:

Received: 5 August 2020; Revised: 13 September; Accepted: 25 October; Available online: 15 November 2020

Academic Editor: Dr. Tamer Elhabibi, Suez Canal University, Egypt, tamer_hassan@pharm.suez.edu.eg

Received file:                Reviewer's Comments:

Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.0/10

Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10

Reviewer(s) detail:

Prof. Dr. Hassan A.H. Al-Shamahy, Sana'a University, Yemen, shmahe@yemen.net.ye  

Dr. A.A. Mgbahurike, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, amaka_mgbahurike@yahoo.com