Assessment of Prescription Errors in the Internal Medicine Department of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Nepal: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Prescription errors are common problems in hospitals that lead to increase in morbidity, mortality and cost of treatments. They also reduce faiths towards healthcare providers. They are avoidable and their adverse outcome can be reduced if they are assessed and recognized earlier. This study was conducted to assess prescription errors occurred in tertiary care hospital Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in Internal Medicine department of Lumbini Medical College for five months duration. Patients who prescribed at least one drug in prescription form were included. Results: Out of total patients, 39.5% had medication error. Among medication errors, 37.6% patients had error of omission. Among error of omission, dose of the drug was not mentioned in 26.1% patients. Category B (21.6%) of severity of medication error was the most common. Patients with one diagnosis less likely had medication errors comparing to the patients with more than one diagnosis (p = 0.0002). The tendency of making medication errors was higher among patients with polypharmacy (p < 0.001) and patients who prescribed Fixed-Dose Drug Combination (p < 0.001). Similarly, the tendency of making errors of omission was also higher among patients with more than one diagnosis (p = 0.0002), patients with polypharmacy (p < 0.001) and patients who prescribed Fixed-Dose Drug Combinations (p < 0.001). Conclusion: One-third of patients had medication errors. Among them, errors of omission were the most common. The collaborative program between doctors, clinical pharmacologists and hospital administration to minimize the occurrence of errors will be effective.