title: Prescription errors with cytotoxic drugs and the inadequacy of existing classifications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To quantify the amount of potential prescription errors for anticancer drugs in order to improve the quality of care.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cytotoxic reconstitution unit at the Laennec Hospital in Paris, France during 6 months in the year 2000.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pharmacist carried out a systematic analysis (e.g. dose, protocol, physicochemical properties) of the prescriptions for anticancer drugs (ACDs) before the compounding and handling at the cytotoxic unit of the pharmacy took place. The detected errors and potential errors were documented and analysed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Numbers and kinds of medication errors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Documenting data was difficult because of the inadequacy of existing classifications that usually do not include potential errors in prescriptions for with ACDs. Despite the presence of a formulary on the clinical wards, 349 errors were detected and documented, mainly concerning pharmaceutical aspects. Physicians were not aware of this type of errors due to lack of studies about their impact. Teaching aids such as a computer program for prescribing and production of ACDs could help in minimising these errors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 349 detected errors involved mainly the physicochemical properties of preparations. A computerised prescription network could possibly reduce the number of such errors. Furthermore, a redefinition of the classifications of errors for cytotoxic preparations seems desirable, and such classifications should include typical pharmaceutical problems, and potential errors that do not reach the patient.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Department, European Hospital Georges Pompidou, Paris Cedex, France. cyril.slama@hop.egp.ap-hop-paris.fr
authors.forename: Cyril
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Slama
authors.forename: Joëlle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jerome
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jacquot
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bonan
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000379:methods; D004344:Drug Incompatibility; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000592:standards*; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000145:classification*; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital; D011787:Quality of Health Care
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents