[Erroneous and unsatisfactory filling in of drug charts--a potential source of medication error].
BACKGROUND
Medication errors may have serious consequences for patients and erroneous drug charts represent one of several causes of error. As part of a quality assurance survey, we studied whether user documentation on the charts was in accordance with the guidelines for chart keeping.


METHODS
On the same day, the drug charts of all hospitalized patients (n = 401) were copied and a representative sample of 207 charts was reviewed.


RESULTS
15 charts had no prescriptions; 14 of the remaining 192 charts (7 %) were correctly filled in. 152 charts (79 %) had deviations that we considered might pose only minor potential health risk; 26 (14 %) had deviations implying potential risk. No charts had deviations considered to pose major risk.


CONCLUSIONS
Several deviations from the guidelines were found and better training is needed; we recommend standardisation of drug charts and guidelines.
Ritland
Ståle
S
Medisinsk klinikk, Sykehuset Buskerud, 3004 Drammen. sritlan@online.no
Kummen
Marit
M
Gjerde
Ingun
I
Taranrød
Berit
B
D004282:Documentation / Q000592:standards; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008499:Medical Records / Q000592:standards*; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D009664:Norway; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors