Drug-dispensing errors in the hospital pharmacy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the dispensing error rate and to identify factors associated with them, and to propose prevention actions.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study focusing on the occurrence of dispensing errors in a general hospital in Belo Horizonte that uses a mixed system (a combination of multidose and unit dose systems) of collective and individualized dosing.


RESULTS
A total of 422 prescription order forms were analyzed, registering 81.8% with at least 1 dispensing error. Opportunities for errors were higher in the pretyped prescription order forms (odds ratio = 4.5; P <.001), in those with 9 or more drugs (odds ratio = 4.0; P <.001), and with those for injectable drugs (odds ratio = 5.0; P <.001). One of the teams of professionals had a higher chance of errors (odds ratio = 2.0; P =.02). A multivariate analysis ratified these results.


CONCLUSIONS
The dispensing system at the pharmacy can produce many latent failures and does not have an adequate control; it has several conditions that predispose it to the occurrence of errors, contributing to the high rate reported.
Anacleto
Tânia Azevedo
TA
Hospital João XXIII, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. taniaanacleto@yahoo.com
Perini
Edson
E
Rosa
Mário Borges
MB
César
Cibele Comini
CC
D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004304:Dosage Forms; D004348:Drug Labeling; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D004304:Dosage Forms