Survey of dispensing error practices in community pharmacies in Finland: a nationwide study

To assess the actions taken to manage dispensing errors, to investigate pharmacists' perceptions of ideal methods for managing dispensing errors, and to evaluate the reliability of in-house dispensing error reporting systems.

National cross-sectional survey.

Main outlets of all privately owned Finnish community pharmacies (n = 599) in March 2005.

Owners and operational managers of Finnish community pharmacies.

Mail survey containing structured and open-ended questions.

Current actions taken in the dispensing error managing process, pharmacist perceptions on the ideal ways of action to manage dispensing errors, and reported dispensing error rates.

340 participants responded to the survey (response rate 57%). Almost 90% of the responding outlets documented dispensing errors at least occasionally, 47% always documented, and 29% almost always documented. Discussion about dispensing errors was considered the most ideal method for managing dispensing errors in the pharmacy (76% of the respondents), followed by documenting them (45%). The error rate collected from in-house error reporting systems was 14 per 100,000 prescriptions dispensed in 2004.

Most Finnish community pharmacies have an in-house dispensing error reporting system, but reporting has not been fully implemented in all pharmacies. The actual error reporting in most Finnish community pharmacies is not reliable and needs further development and coordination. Discussing dispensing errors and documenting dispensing errors were reported as the most ideal methods for managing errors. Respondents indicated a hope that dispensing errors would be discussed more frequently with the whole staff. These findings demonstrate that Finnish community pharmacists are aware of some of the principles of managing dispensing errors based on the system approach and the benefits of error reporting systems in managing dispensing errors.