Abstract:
The drug distribution system problems in inpatient department at Pramongkutklao Hospital include excessive drug items stored at the nursing stations. These drugs were costly and some were kept beyond expiry date. Other problem was medication errors. Drug distribution system based on the concept of unit dose system was developed. Strategies were 1) pharmacist's reviewing of the original doctor's order sheet, 2) dispensing of drugs for 24 hour usage, 3) the joint responsibility between pharmacist and nurse in taking care of ward's stock and 4) improving medication refunding system. The objective of this study was to determine the rate and causes of the medication errors prior to (October 2544-September 2544) and after (February 2545-March 2545) drug distribution system had been applied. Three types of medication errors (in prescribing, transcription and dispensing) were specifically assessed. The improvement was found only in the rate of transcription error (31.57% vs. 8.14%). The rate of prescribing errors (0.23% vs. 0.37%) and dispensing errors (0.19% vs. 2.16%), however, was not affected. This study indicated that unit dose drug delivery system clearly improved medication errors, at least in the area of transcription. However, it is not known whether the errors can be further reduced in all areas if the unit dose system can be jointly operated between the inpatient and pharmacy department