[Development of an inspection-supporting system using drug images for unit dose packages]

When inspecting unit-dose packaged drugs, there would be some possibility of inspection errors and ultimately dispensing errors due to pharmacist's incorrect memory of drug identification. Therefore, this study was aimed to establish a computer-aided system for inspecting drugs of unit dose packages more accurately and efficiently. First, we analyzed the identifiability of 5846 tablets and capsules using drug codes, in order to define an identification problem for unit dose-packaged drugs. It was shown that as much as 36% of the drugs do not have any codes, 4.0% of the code-marked drugs have identical codes with others, and that 9.7% of the drugs with codes on both sides of the surface share the same code with other drugs. Thus, it was clearly shown that in many cases it is impossible to identify pharmaceuticals exactly using drug codes only. On the other hand, it was indicated that approximately 80% of the drugs which were not identified with drug codes only, could be identified when additional information on drugs' color, size, form, and splitting line was provided. Therefore, in this study, we designed an inspection-supporting system to present promptly all the information necessary for the drug identification by displaying real drug images as linked with prescribing information on the monitor. Retrieval of prescription data from the order entry host was automatically performed by entering patient's ID number or by selecting a patient from the name list of patients at the inspection terminal computer. Moreover, the system was equipped with abilities to automatically check drug interactions and duplicate prescriptions, to provide various information of prescribed drugs and to monitor patients' drug history. We used the developed system and evaluated that it is a useful tool for accurate and efficient inspection of unit dose-packaged drugs. In addition, the quality of drug inspection increased by utilizing system functions such as checking drug interactions and providing drug information.