Display options
Cite
Ajemigbitse AA, Omole MK, Ezike NC, et al. Assessment of the knowledge and attitudes of intern doctors to medication prescribing errors in a Nigeria tertiary hospital. J Basic Clin Pharm. 2013;5(1):7-14doi: 10.4103/0976-0105.128244.
Ajemigbitse, A. A., Omole, M. K., Ezike, N. C., & Erhun, W. O. (2013). Assessment of the knowledge and attitudes of intern doctors to medication prescribing errors in a Nigeria tertiary hospital. Journal of basic and clinical pharmacy, 5(1), 7-14. https://doi.org/10.4103/0976-0105.128244
Ajemigbitse, Adetutu A, et al. "Assessment of the knowledge and attitudes of intern doctors to medication prescribing errors in a Nigeria tertiary hospital." Journal of basic and clinical pharmacy vol. 5,1 (2013): 7-14. doi: https://doi.org/10.4103/0976-0105.128244
Ajemigbitse AA, Omole MK, Ezike NC, Erhun WO. Assessment of the knowledge and attitudes of intern doctors to medication prescribing errors in a Nigeria tertiary hospital. J Basic Clin Pharm. 2013 Dec;5(1):7-14. doi: 10.4103/0976-0105.128244. PMID: 24808682; PMCID: PMC4012704.
Copy Download .nbib Format: NLM
Share it on

J Basic Clin Pharm. 2013 Dec;5(1):7-14. doi: 10.4103/0976-0105.128244.

Assessment of the knowledge and attitudes of intern doctors to medication prescribing errors in a Nigeria tertiary hospital.

Journal of basic and clinical pharmacy

Adetutu A Ajemigbitse, Moses Kayode Omole, Nnamdi Chika Ezike, Wilson O Erhun

Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacy, National Hospital Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria.
  2. Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Administration, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
  3. Department of Statistics, University of Abuja, Vatican Street, Saburi District, Abuja, Nigeria.
  4. Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Administration, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.

PMID: 24808682 PMCID: PMC4012704 DOI: 10.4103/0976-0105.128244

Abstract

CONTEXT: Junior doctors are reported to make most of the prescribing errors in the hospital setting.

AIMS: The aim of the following study is to determine the knowledge intern doctors have about prescribing errors and circumstances contributing to making them.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A structured questionnaire was distributed to intern doctors in National Hospital Abuja Nigeria.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Respondents gave information about their experience with prescribing medicines, the extent to which they agreed with the definition of a clinically meaningful prescribing error and events that constituted such. Their experience with prescribing certain categories of medicines was also sought.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data was analyzed with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 17 (SPSS Inc Chicago, Ill, USA). Chi-squared analysis contrasted differences in proportions; P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

RESULTS: The response rate was 90.9% and 27 (90%) had <1 year of prescribing experience. 17 (56.7%) respondents totally agreed with the definition of a clinically meaningful prescribing error. Most common reasons for prescribing mistakes were a failure to check prescriptions with a reference source (14, 25.5%) and failure to check for adverse drug interactions (14, 25.5%). Omitting some essential information such as duration of therapy (13, 20%), patient age (14, 21.5%) and dosage errors (14, 21.5%) were the most common types of prescribing errors made. Respondents considered workload (23, 76.7%), multitasking (19, 63.3%), rushing (18, 60.0%) and tiredness/stress (16, 53.3%) as important factors contributing to prescribing errors. Interns were least confident prescribing antibiotics (12, 25.5%), opioid analgesics (12, 25.5%) cytotoxics (10, 21.3%) and antipsychotics (9, 19.1%) unsupervised.

CONCLUSIONS: Respondents seemed to have a low awareness of making prescribing errors. Principles of rational prescribing and events that constitute prescribing errors should be taught in the practice setting.

Keywords: Hospital setting; internship training; junior doctors; prescribing errors

References

  1. Med J Aust. 2008 Jan 21;188(2):89-94 - PubMed
  2. Qual Saf Health Care. 2002 Dec;11(4):340-4 - PubMed
  3. Qual Health Care. 2000 Dec;9(4):232-7 - PubMed
  4. BMC Med Educ. 2010 Nov 11;10:78 - PubMed
  5. Indian J Pharmacol. 2008 Nov;40(6):251-5 - PubMed
  6. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2011 Jun 15;68(12):1086-96 - PubMed
  7. Clin Interv Aging. 2009;4:343-50 - PubMed
  8. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2007 Sep;64(3):363-72 - PubMed
  9. BMC Med Educ. 2009 Jul 28;9:50 - PubMed
  10. Lancet. 2002 Apr 20;359(9315):1373-8 - PubMed
  11. BMJ Open. 2013 Jan 09;3(1): - PubMed
  12. Postgrad Med J. 2011 Nov;87(1033):739-45 - PubMed
  13. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2009 Jun;67(6):599-604 - PubMed
  14. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2006 May;61(5):487-91 - PubMed
  15. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2008 Apr;65(4):615-6 - PubMed
  16. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2009 Jun;67(6):629-40 - PubMed
  17. BMJ Qual Saf. 2013 Feb;22(2):97-102 - PubMed
  18. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2008 Jul;66(1):128-34 - PubMed
  19. Int J Pharm Pract. 2009 Jun;17(3):189-93 - PubMed
  20. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2005 Jun;43(6):294-301 - PubMed

Publication Types