Effect of Change on Drug Name Labeling using Thai Language for Drugs with Similar Names on Pre-dispensing Errors
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Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the effect of label change on drug names using Thai language for those with similar drug names on pre-dispensing errors. Methods: Drugs with similar names in this research were same drugs with different strengths or different drugs with names looking alike. The researcher changed the setting for drugs with similar names in computer program so that the printed labels of those with less frequency of prescribing showed Thai drug names above English names. The labels of name of those with more frequent prescribing remained the same in English. This research compared outpatients pre-dispensing errors rate among similar drug names before (March 30 to June 12, 2017) and after drug labels (June 20 to September 2, 2017). Results: After label change, pre-dispensing errors rate from similar drug names in outpatient services significantly decreased from 1.52 per 1,000 prescriptions (from the total of 11,851 prescriptions) to 0.65 per 1,000 prescriptions (from the total of 13,750 prescriptions), accounting for 57.24% decrease (P=0.034). Conclusion: After label change on drug names using Thai for drugs with similar names, pre-dispensing errors rate of drugs with similar names for outpatients significantly decreased. Therefore, this method should be considered for changing the labels for drugs with similar names in the hospital as appropriate for its context.
Article Details
ผลการวิจัยและความคิดเห็นที่ปรากฏในบทความถือเป็นความคิดเห็นและอยู่ในความรับผิดชอบของผู้นิพนธ์ มิใช่ความเห็นหรือความรับผิดชอบของกองบรรณาธิการ หรือคณะเภสัชศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยสงขลานครินทร์ ทั้งนี้ไม่รวมความผิดพลาดอันเกิดจากการพิมพ์ บทความที่ได้รับการเผยแพร่โดยวารสารเภสัชกรรมไทยถือเป็นสิทธิ์ของวารสารฯ
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