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Psychosocial factors, workload, and human error in a simulated pharmacy dispensing task
1Department of Psychology, University of Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA. Tony.Grasha@UC.Edu
Perceptual and Motor Skills
|April 27, 2001
Summary
Prescription filling errors, including data-entry and product selection mistakes, were linked to workload pace, stress, and individual factors. Understanding these predictors can improve pharmacy practice safety.
Area of Science:
- Human Factors and Ergonomics
- Cognitive Psychology
- Pharmacy Practice
Background:
- Prescription filling is a complex task prone to errors.
- Understanding factors influencing these errors is crucial for patient safety.
- Existing research highlights various contributing elements to medication errors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between simulated prescription filling workload and error types.
- To identify individual and situational factors predicting specific error patterns.
- To compare simulated errors with those observed in real-world pharmacy settings.
Main Methods:
- Participants completed 42 simulated prescription orders.
- Objective workload (70 vs. 80 minutes) and subjective workload (NASA Task Load Index) were manipulated.
- Data-entry, counting, and product-selection errors were recorded and analyzed.
- Predictors included relationship stress, social stress, field dependence, GPA, and workload pace.
Main Results:
- Data-entry errors were associated with relationship stress, field dependence, and an 80-minute workload.
- Product selection errors correlated with low GPA, high social stress, low concern for performance, and a 70-minute workload.
- Error patterns mirrored those found in actual pharmacy practice.
Conclusions:
- Workload pace and stress significantly influence different types of prescription filling errors.
- Individual characteristics interact with task demands to predict error likelihood.
- Findings support cognitive-systems performance models and inform strategies to reduce pharmacy errors.
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