title: Exploratory study to identify the process used by pharmacy staff to verify the accuracy of dispensed medicines.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the common stages and strategies involved in the dispensing accuracy-checking process used by pharmacy staff and to determine the training activities used by these staff to gain the knowledge and skills for accuracy checking.
  
  
  METHODS
  Face-to-face tape-recorded ethnographic interviews (n = 28) were undertaken in 2009-2010 at two large teaching hospitals with a purposive sample of pharmacists and accredited checking technicians qualified to undertake the final accuracy check on dispensed medicines. Participants described their accuracy-checking process, strategies used to aid checking using anonymised prescriptions and accurate dispensing of medicines to aid discussion. The range of training activities undertaken to develop this skill were discussed. Qualitative data were analysed in accordance with the principles of grounded theory to identify themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The accuracy-checking process was described as a cognitive and systematic process. The order in which accuracy checking was executed was found to follow two pathways, with all participants checking the prescription first before verifying either the label or dispensed product. Various physical and sensory aids were used to assist in this verification process. There were inconsistencies in the level of accuracy-checking training received by pharmacists and accredited checking technicians, with many pharmacists reporting no training.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although an important medication-error prevention strategy, until this study little was known about the process used by pharmacy staff when verifying the accuracy of dispensed medicines. Accuracy checking is a complex cognitive task involving verification of the product and label with the prescription. Strategies obtained during past experience and in training were used to aid checking. The study highlighted that pharmacy staff training to undertake this task was variable. Application of strategies identified in this study may allow individuals to adopt further safeguards to improve patient safety.
authors: King's College London, King's Health Partners, Pharmaceutical Science Clinical Academic Group, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, London, UK.
authors: Berko
authors: B
authors: Anto
authors: Kathryn Lynette
authors: KL
authors: James
authors: Dave
authors: D
authors: Barlow
authors: Nigel
authors: N
authors: Brinklow
authors: C Alice
authors: CA
authors: Oborne
authors: Cate
authors: C
authors: Whittlesea
mesh_terms: D000068:Accreditation; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004348:Drug Labeling; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D010596:Pharmacy Technicians / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D024382:Professional Role
chemical_list: D055553:Prescription Drugs
keywords: dispensing; education; medication risk; patient safety; practice