Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 11, 2026
A Computerized Functional Skills Assessment and Training Program Targeting Technology Based Everyday Functional Skills
Published on: February 13, 2020
[Failure mode and effects analysis on computerized drug prescriptions]
J A Paredes-Atenciano1, J P Roldán-Aviña2, Mercedes González-García3
1Departamento de Hospitalización, Hospital de Alta Resolución de Écija (Agencia Sanitaria Bajo Guadalquivir), Écija, Sevilla, España.
Objective:
To identify and analyze errors in drug prescriptions of patients treated in a "high resolution" hospital by applying a Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA).Material and methods A multidisciplinary group of medical specialties and nursing analyzed medical records where drug prescriptions were held in free text format. An FMEA was developed in which the risk priority index (RPI) was obtained from a cross-sectional observational study using an audit of the medical records, carried out in 2 phases: 1) Pre-intervention testing, and (2) evaluation of improvement actions after the first analysis. An audit sample size of 679 medical records from a total of 2,096 patients was calculated using stratified sampling and random selection of clinical events.
Results:
Prescription errors decreased by 22.2% in the second phase. FMEA showed a greater RPI in "unspecified route of administration" and "dosage unspecified", with no significant decreases observed in the second phase, although it did detect, "incorrect dosing time", "contraindication due to drug allergy", "wrong patient" or "duplicate prescription", which resulted in the improvement of prescriptions.
Conclusions:
Drug prescription errors have been identified and analyzed by FMEA methodology, improving the clinical safety of these prescriptions. This tool allows updates of electronic prescribing to be monitored. To avoid such errors would require the mandatory completion of all sections of a prescription.
Insights
Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) identified and reduced drug prescription errors by 22.2% in a hospital setting. Key areas for improvement included unspecified administration routes and dosages, enhancing patient safety.
Area of Science:
- Medical Informatics
- Patient Safety
- Clinical Pharmacy
Background:
- Drug prescription errors pose a significant risk to patient safety.
- Accurate and complete prescriptions are crucial for effective treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and analyze drug prescription errors using Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA).
- To evaluate the effectiveness of FMEA in improving prescription accuracy and patient safety.
Main Methods:
- A multidisciplinary team applied FMEA to analyze free-text drug prescriptions.
- A cross-sectional observational study with a two-phase audit (pre- and post-intervention) was conducted.
- Sample size included 679 medical records from 2,096 patients.
Main Results:
- Overall prescription errors decreased by 22.2% after the intervention.
- FMEA highlighted high-risk areas such as unspecified route of administration and dosage.
- Specific errors like incorrect dosing time and contraindications were identified and addressed.
Conclusions:
- FMEA is an effective tool for identifying and analyzing drug prescription errors.
- Implementing FMEA improved the clinical safety of drug prescriptions.
- Mandatory completion of all prescription fields is recommended to prevent errors.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios
01:14Pharmacodynamic Models: Link Model and Systems Pharmacodynamic Model
01:23Modified-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Classification
01:19Pharmacovigilance
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...
01:19Modified-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Overview
01:02Prescription, Nonprescription and Orphan Drugs
The misuse and addiction to prescription drugs is a growing problem that can affect people of all age groups, specifically teenagers. This can happen when prescription medications are used in ways not intended by the prescriber, such as taking someone else's prescription or using medication for...