Medication Errors and Clinical Outcomes in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy at a Tertiary Hospital: Retrospective Descriptive study

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate prevalence, types and severity of medication errors (MEs) and clinical outcomes among patients receiving chemotherapy at a tertiary hospital. Methods: This retrospective descriptive study collected data from medical records, chemotherapy prescriptions, chemotherapy working records and medication error reports. Data collection started at January 1, 2016 and ended when 2014 prescriptions were reached. Results: MEs were found in 175 prescriptions (8.70%). The most prevalent MEs were preparation errors (4.60%), followed by prescribing errors (2.20%), and transcribing error (1.90%). The most frequently identified severity of MEs was level B (n=163 prescription, 8.10%), followed by level C, (n=10, 0.50%) and level D (n=2, 0.10%). The study identified 2 oxaliplatin prescriptions without preventive medications in patients who had ever developed hypersensitivity reactions, leading to hypersensitivity. In addition, the study found 6 prescriptions of chemotherapy with warfarin, leading to the elevation of INR level above target ranges, however, there was no abnormal bleeding reported. No bone marrow suppressions were reported from receiving too high dose of the chemotherapy. Conclusion: Most MEs were identified during preparing phase. Improvement of system in prescribing and preparing phases using information technology could reduce MEs.