Prescribing Errors Flashcards

1
Q

What is defined as a medication error?

A

Any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm.

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2
Q

What are the four most common type of drug groups associated with preventable drug-related hospital admissions?

A

Anti-platelets, diuretics, NSAIDS and anticoagulants

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3
Q

When are health care professionals most likely to make medication errors?

A

When the health-care professional is inexperienced, inattentive, rushed, distracted, tired, depressed, orthopaedic surgeons, work in paediatrics, work in intensive care units, with elderly people, lack of knowledge/experience

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4
Q

How can medication errors arise?

A

Medication omitted, incomplete prescription, incorrect dose, incorrect frequency, incorrect transcription of a new blood chart

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5
Q

Which patients are more likely to receive a medication error?

A

Patients in a variety of drugs
Patients with multiple co-morbidities
Patients which require multiple specialists and care settings
Patients who require high risk medications

In very old and very young patients

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6
Q

What two processes result in prescribing errors?

A

Prescription decision and prescription writing

There is therefore less chance of the drug being timely and effective
More chance of harm compared to what is accepted in normal practice

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7
Q

What is the difference between a prescribing error and fault?

A

Fault - Poor choice in which drug to use and how

Error - Poor prescription writing process - wrong instructions

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8
Q

Give examples of prescribing errors

A

Wrong patient
Abbreviation
Missing instructions
Omission of signature
Incorrect drug
Illegible

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9
Q

Give examples of prescribing faults

A

Duplication
Allergy
Drug-drug interaction

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10
Q

What errors are defined as mistakes?

A

Errors that arise from poor planning or inadequate knowledge

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11
Q

What errors are defined as slips?

A

An imperfect execution of a well-formulated plan

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12
Q

What errors are defined as lapses?

A

When a correct act is omitted

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13
Q

Which tasks are more prone to error?

A

Tasks unfamiliar to the operator, performed under pressure, require calculations

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14
Q

Where can errors in decision making arise?

A

Knowledge of medication and allergy is poor

Knowledge of drug drug interactions is poor

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15
Q

What are the types of drug drug interactions?

A

Pharmacokinetic
ADME

Pharmacodynamic
Synergistic
Antagonistic

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