Evaluation of prescription-writing quality in a French university hospital.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the quality of prescription writing at a university hospital in France.


METHODS
Each of the 42 medical, surgical, and intensive-care departments were invited to participate in the study. The initial medication orders were reviewed for 866 patients, resulting in 3,254 medications prescribed. One prescription per patient was reviewed for a total of 866 patients, presenting 3,254 medications.


RESULTS
Of the 866 prescriptions reviewed, 95.5% were dated. Patient identification was complete in 35.3%. The prescriber was identified properly by both full name and signature in 7.5% of prescriptions. Medication information was complete in only 24% of cases.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed that prescriptions were not written correctly. Results of this study have been disseminated, and education has begun on proper prescription practice.
François
P
P
Fédération d'Evaluation, Grenoble, France.
Chirpaz
E
E
Bontemps
H
H
Labarère
J
J
Bosson
J L
JL
Calop
J
J
D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000592:standards*; D005568:Forms and Records Control; D005602:France; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D008508:Medication Errors; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D010355:Patient Identification Systems; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D014956:Writing / Q000592:standards