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Evaluation of electronic databases used to identify solid oral dosage forms.
Carol G Raschke1, Randy C Hatton, S Jay Weaver
1Westside Regional Medical Center, Plantation, FL, USA.
Summary
Electronic drug identification databases accurately identify most solid oral dosage forms by imprint codes. Combining multiple databases offers the best identification method, especially for commonly prescribed medications.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Health Informatics
- Drug Safety
Background:
- Accurate identification of solid oral dosage forms is crucial for patient safety and effective medication management.
- Imprint codes are a primary identifier for these dosage forms, but their recognition by electronic databases varies.
- Existing electronic drug identification databases require evaluation for their efficacy in identifying medications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the identification accuracy of seven commercial electronic drug identification databases using imprint codes for solid oral dosage forms.
- To compare the performance of different databases and identify factors influencing successful drug identification.
- To determine the optimal strategy for drug identification using electronic resources in healthcare settings.
Main Methods:
- Seven electronic drug identification databases were evaluated against 500 solid oral dosage forms.
- Identification success rates were compared using chi-square tests.
- Logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the impact of drug characteristics (e.g., brand vs. generic, prescription status, market duration) on identification probability.
Main Results:
- Combined, the seven databases identified 95.6% of medications by imprint code, color, shape, and scoring.
- Ident-A-Drug and Identidex demonstrated the highest identification rates, while PDR Electronic Library and Facts and Comparisons had the lowest.
- Medications marketed for over a year, brand-name drugs, and prescription medications were more readily identified.
Conclusions:
- A combination of electronic drug identification databases provides the most effective method for identifying solid oral dosage forms in institutional settings.
- Generic products, nonprescription drugs, and those recently introduced to the market present significant identification challenges.
- Healthcare professionals should utilize multiple electronic resources to ensure accurate drug identification and enhance patient safety.