5PSQ-019 Prevention of dispensing medication errors in electronic prescriptions

<h3>Background and Importance</h3> Although electronic prescribing systems offer many advantages, including reduced medication errors, numerous studies indicate that errors in drug prescription remain prevalent. These lead to important consequences, including patient safety issues and <i>increased</i> healthcare-related <i>costs</i>. It is therefore necessary to implement tools that prevent the incorrect dispensing of medication. <h3>Aim and Objectives</h3> To implement an electronic tool to preventively discontinue potential errors in home medication prescriptions and alert the prescribing physician so that the error can be solved. <h3>Material and Methods</h3> Prospective study from 1 March to 31 July 2024 in a tertiary care hospital. Potential medication errors detected in outpatients were discontinued through an electronic tool linked to the patients‘ home prescriptions. The prescribing physician was notified on the day the medication was discontinued. The resolution by the prescriber was also evaluated after one week (deadline for modification of these pharmaceutical interventions in the tool). The classification of errors was as follows: (1) therapeutic duplication, (2) incorrect dosage, (3) completed course of treatment not discontinued in electronic prescription and dispensing, (4) therapeutic inadequacy, including contraindication, overdose, etc.).The following variables were obtained: sex, age, polypharmacy (≥5 medications), therapeutic group of the drug, prescribing service. Data were obtained from electronic medical records and e-prescribing and dispensing system. <h3>Results</h3> Fifty medication errors were detected in 46 patients, 62% women with a median age of 61 (IQR: 24–78). Of these patients, 42 (84%) were polymedicated. The median number of drugs prescribed was 9 (IQR: 4–14). The errors were classified as follows: (1) 62%, (2) 14%, (3) 8%, (4) 16%. The most frequent errors were detected in <i>antidiabetic agents (28</i><i>%), drugs</i> for treating hypercholesterolaemia and hypertriglyceridaemia (20%), anticoagulants (12%), bisphosphonates (12%) and methotrexate (8%). The prescribers were primary care physicians (36%), internists (24%), cardiologists (12%), neurologists (6%), pulmonologists (6%), among others. Suspension was accepted for 96% of potential medication errors. <h3>Conclusion and Relevance</h3> Although technology has contributed to improvements in medication error prevention, prescribing errors continue to occur. The electronic tool to discontinue prescribing errors contributes to patient safety by preventing potential dispensing errors, especially in polymedicated patients. The majority of the pharmacist interventions were accepted by the prescribing physician. <h3>References and/or Acknowledgements</h3> <h3>Conflict of Interest</h3> No conflict of interest