Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Improving IV Insulin Administration in a Community Hospital
Published on: June 11, 2012
Medication error identification rates by pharmacy, medical, and nursing students
Terri L Warholak1, Caryn Queiruga, Rebecca Roush
1University of Arizona, Pharmacy Practice and Science, 1295 N. Martin Ave., PO Box 210202, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
Objective:
To assess and compare prescribing error-identification rates by health professional students.
Methods:
Medical, pharmacy, and nursing students were asked to complete a questionnaire on which they evaluated the accuracy of 3 prescriptions and indicated the type of error found, if any. The number of correctly identified prescribing errors and the number of correct types of errors identified were compared and error identification rates for each group were calculated.
Results:
One hundred seventy-five questionnaires were returned (87% response rate). Pharmacy students had a significantly higher error-identification rate than medical and nursing students (p < 0.001). No significant differences were found between medical and nursing students (p = 0.88). Compared to medical students, pharmacy students more often were able to identify correctly the error type for each prescription (p < 0.001; p = 0.023; p = 0.001).
Conclusions:
Of the 3 student groups, pharmacy students demonstrated a significantly higher error-identification rate, which may be associated with the greater number of pharmacology and pharmacotherapeutics course hours that pharmacy students complete.
Related Concept Videos
Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios
Errors occurring during blood pressure monitoring
Several factors...
Documentation of Nursing Diagnosis
In some settings, data-driven computerized decision support systems are in place, allowing for more accurate nursing diagnoses. The database within one of these systems includes diagnostic labels defining characteristics, activities, and indicators for nursing. A nurse enters assessment...
Systematic Error: Methodological and Sampling Errors
Sampling errors originate from improper sampling methods or the wrong sample population. These errors can be minimized by refining the sampling strategy. Defective instruments or faulty calibrations are the sources of instrumental...
Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients
Pharmacovigilance
This process, termed pharmacovigilance, aims to detect, evaluate, and minimize harmful effects related to medication use. The data collection for pharmacovigilance depends on spontaneous reporting systems, where healthcare professionals or patients voluntarily report suspected ADRs.
In some cases, there...