[Cytostatic prescription errors: an analysis of causes, and proposals regarding their prevention].
OBJECTIVE
To collect and analyze prescription errors for parenterally-administered cytostatic drugs, to identify causes from results obtained, and to suggest feasible solutions to prevent them.


METHODS
In our hospital, parenterally-administered cytotoxic drugs are prepared in the Pharmacy Department, where 100% of prescriptions are validated with the help of a software program. Prescription errors detected at validation over a 2-year period of time were recorded in a specific form to facilitate analysis.


RESULTS
In all, 292 possible errors were detected and 183 were confirmed; most resulted from dosing errors, followed by incorrect treatment duration. Other errors detected included: dose or drug omitted, wrong administration route, wrong patient, and wrong medication. The following measures were suggested: improvement of the data processing system at the Pharmacy Department, implementation of an electronic prescription system, continuous updating of cytostatic therapy protocols, and inclusion of cytostatic prescription recommendations within Pharmacotherapeutic Guidelines.


CONCLUSIONS
Most common errors included doses above or below the correct ones, with the primary cause being poor handwriting in manual prescriptions. Active recording of prescription errors is essential if an analysis of real causes in our setting is to be undertaken, as well as to making proposals and implementing definite solutions.
Goyache Goñi
M P
MP
Servicio de Farmacia, Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid. mpuy.hdoc@salud.madrid.org
Vicario Zubizarreta
M J
MJ
García Rodríguez
M P
MP
Cortijo Cascajares
S
S
Esteban Gómez
M J
MJ
Herreros de Tejada
A
A
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008491:Medical Informatics Applications; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013030:Spain
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents