Abstract

GUTIERREZ, Stella; MOGNI, Analhí; BERON, Ana  and  IRAMAIN, Rodrigo. Errores de medicación en niños hospitalizados . Arch. Pediatr. Urug. [online]. 2011, vol.82, n.3, pp.133-140. ISSN 0004-0584.

Summary Objective: to know the prevalence of medicine prescription and transcription errors in paediatric inpatients, in order to be able to develop prevention strategies. Methods: a descriptive, cross-sectional study based on the children’s clinical records for 24 hours. The adopted definition of correct prescription and transcription was the one recommended by the American Academy of Paediatrics. The percentage of prescription and transcription errors was calculated based on the prevalence per 100 medical indications and per 100 nurse transcriptions. Results: 136 clinical histories, 276 prescriptions and 448 nurse transcriptions were revised. Prescription was correctly carried out in 2% of the cases. The most frequent errors were the omission of time (89%); legible clarification of the signature (82%) and of the doctor's identification number (50%). The prevalence of errors in handling pharmaceuticals was of 66 out of 100 medical prescriptions. The most frequent errors were the non registration of the way of administration (25%), the absence of generic drug name (23%) and the dosage interval (20%). Transcription was correct in 22% of the cases. The error prevalence was 34.1%, for the wrong dosage interval (11,7%), the wrong dosage (7,5%) and the wrong administration (3,5%). Conclusions: medication error prevalence is high in both prescription and transcription. Educational programs for health care professionals and medicine prescription and transcription surveillance should be addressed as well as patient safety focused programs.

Keywords : MEDICATION ERRORS; DRUG PRESCRIPTIONS; PREVALENCE; CHILD, HOSPITALIZED.

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