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- Title
Introducing a structured prescription form improves the quality of handwritten prescriptions in limited resource setting of developing countries.
- Authors
Raza, Usman Ahmad; Latif, Sana; Naseer, Anum; Saad, Maryam; Zeeshan, Muhammad Fazal; Qazi, Umair
- Abstract
Introduction Incomplete or illegible prescriptions can lead to serious errors in administration of the prescribed medication, which can become hazardous. Objective Our aim is to determine if a structured prescription form can improve the quality of handwritten prescription in terms of completeness and legibility. Methods We conducted a prospective, non-randomized, time series study of quality of written prescriptions of general practitioners at a tertiary teaching hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan. The study involved an intervention, composed of the introduction of a pre-printed structured prescription form. The data were collected within 4 weeks including a 2-week pre-intervention phase and 2-week post-intervention phase. Completeness, quality of prescriptions and legibility were compared before and after the intervention of the pre-printed structured prescription form. Results A total of 463 prescriptions were obtained (260 in the pre-intervention phase and 203 in the post-intervention phase). Between pre-intervention phase and post-intervention phase, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council registration number presence in prescriptions improved from 73.1% to 100% ( P < 0.0005). The presence of prescriber's signature improved from 92.7% to 99% ( P = 0.001). Drug duration was not missing in 99.5% in post-intervention phase as compared with 90.4% in pre-intervention phase ( P < 0.0005). Prescriptions with no legibility problems improved from 76.2% to 94.1% ( P < 0.0005). Although not statistically significant, prescriptions in which drug dosage was not missing improved from 85% to 90.6% ( P = 0.07). Limitations We have a limited single-center study. A larger study in multiple settings is needed to develop adequate evidence for such interventions. Subjective nature of prescription legibility can also be considered as a limitation. Conclusion Structuring a prescription form alone may improve certain aspects of quality of written prescription in terms of completeness and legibility.
- Subjects
KUWAIT; MEDICATION error prevention; CLINICAL trials; DEVELOPING countries; DRUGS; FISHER exact test; LONGITUDINAL method; PHYSICIANS; TIME series analysis; WRITING
- Publication
Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, 2016, Vol 22, Issue 5, p714
- ISSN
1356-1294
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/jep.12522