Journal of Pharmacovigilance

Abstract

The Impact of a Pharmacy Resident Led Educational Sessions on Electronic Prescribing Errors on Surgical Wards

Abrar Al Subhi, Mohammed Aseeri, Sara Al Khansa, Nour Shamas, Zaher Mikwar, Ahmed Attar and Sherine Ismail

Medication errors present a significant worldwide problem in a healthcare setting. Prescribing errors were reported as the most common type of medication errors (44%) in a local study in Saudi Arabia. Although Computerized Prescriber Order Entry (CPOE) systems reduce prescribing errors, the magnitude of the problem has not yet been evaluated in our setting.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to determine the proportion of prescribing errors before and after implementing pharmacy practice resident-led educational sessions to surgical residents. The secondary objectives were to identify the classes of medication(s) involved in errors, their categories, and the proportion of errors identified and corrected by pharmacist(s) or by the pharmacy resident.

Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of educational sessions on the percentage of electronic prescribing errors at the King Abdulaziz Medical City Western Region (KAMC-WR) for 3 months. Orders by surgical residents were reviewed for prescribing errors before and after the intervention phase. A sample of 890 orders for the pre and post-education sessions was estimated to provide a power of 80% with an alpha of 5% to detect a 50% reduction in prescribing errors post the intervention phase.

Results: A total of 890 orders in the pre and post educational sessions were reviewed. The interventional educational sessions had a 5.4% reduction (P = 0.41) in prescribing errors where 140 / 445 (31.4%) prescribing errors were reported in the pre-educational phase, and 116 / 445 (26%) prescribing errors were reported in the posteducational phase. All prescribing errors were identified and corrected by either in-patient pharmacists or the pharmacy practice resident. The most common class of medications involved was anti-infectives, with 59.3% and 61.2% in the pre and post intervention phase, respectively. The most common category of prescribing errors was the incorrect rate of drug administration with 45.9% and 53.4% in the pre and post intervention phase, respectively.

Conclusion: Educational sessions were not shown to be effective as a single tool to reduce surgical resident’s prescribing errors. However, it may be added as a part of a multifaceted program to reduce electronic prescribing errors.