Documentation of drug allergy on drug chart in patients presenting for surgery.
BACKGROUND
This study looked into documentation of drug allergy in preoperative patients charts who were presenting for elective surgery to enhance patient safety.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the rate of completion of drug allergy. Three hundred charts were evaluated for completion of the drug allergy box during January and February 2006.


RESULTS
Thirty percent charts were not documented for drug allergy.


CONCLUSIONS
A multifaceted approach is necessary to address this important aspect to identify drug errors and enhance patient safety.
Department of Anaesthesia, Adelaide and Meath National Children's Hospital Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. muhammadfarooqch@yahoo.com
M
M
Farooq
C
C
Kirke
K
K
Foley
D000328:Adult; D004282:Documentation / Q000592:standards*; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005568:Forms and Records Control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records / Q000592:standards*; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative