title: [Medication systems in hospitals and their evaluation by professional groups].
abstract: This study was aimed at analyzing the medication systems in hospitals based on the opinions of 107 professionals. With regard to medical prescriptions in the institutions, 74.8 percent were handwritten and 50.4 percent of the medication distribution systems were in individualized doses. Concerning the causes of medication errors, 91 percent were associated with the professionals. For 61.7 percent, the system was adequate, but had shortcomings. Few professionals suggested changes that would favor their work. The conclusion is that the culture of attributing responsibility to the professional for the error, as well as the practice of punishment without a substantial change of the cause that led to it, persists.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermagem Geral e Especializada da Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo.
authors.forename: Silvia Helena De Bortoli
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cassiani
authors.forename: Thalyta Cardoso Alux
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Simone Perufo
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Opitz
authors.forename: Josilene Cristina
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Linhares
mesh_terms: D008508:Medication Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital / Q000592:standards*