title: Quantifying and reducing inhaler prescription errors in secondary care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Junior doctors commonly prescribe inhaled medication for patients admitted to hospitals, and this may be a potential source of prescription error. Objective To determine the potential type, frequency and cost of prescription errors for inhaled medication, and ascertain if a simple educational intervention can improve junior doctors' knowledge and reduce these.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a prospective study looking at the types and cost of inhaled prescription errors. Simultaneously we tested knowledge of junior doctors' using a quiz. Both the studies were carried out before and after the introduction of inhaler flash cards (pictures of devices with, instructions on use and the medication they contain) on specific wards. This was followed by an electronic feedback survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Error rates varied greatly (p = 6.8 × 10(-8)) by device, with 23 % of Evohaler and Accuhaler prescriptions being incorrect. The average cost of an erroneously prescribed medication was £45.50. There were 14 % incorrect prescriptions before the intervention. There was no significant improvement in junior doctors' knowledge of inhalers or the rate of prescription error after the intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prescription errors of inhaled medication are common and costly to rectify. There is a need for improved teaching and training of junior doctors and medical students.
authors.affiliation: Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool, L9 7AL, UK. saherrazaz@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Seher
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zaidi
authors.affiliation: Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool, L9 7AL, UK.
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mordaunt
authors.affiliation: Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool, L9 7AL, UK.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Durnin
authors.affiliation: Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool, L9 7AL, UK.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cooke
authors.affiliation: Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool, L9 7AL, UK.|Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Blakey
mesh_terms: D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers / Q000191:economics; D010820:Physicians; D011446:Prospective Studies; D063127:Secondary Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Errors; Inhaled medication; Junior doctors; Knowledge; Prescribing; United Kingdom