Decoding prescriptions: A closer look at common errors in clinical practice across community pharmacies of Northern...

Prescription documentation is essential for patient safety and medication efficacy. However, incomplete or illegible prescriptions can lead to errors, including drug-drug interactions (DDIs). This study evaluated the completeness, clarity and quality of handwritten and electronic prescriptions from community pharmacies in Northern Cyprus, assessing compliance with WHO guidelines. A total of 5,246 prescriptions from 23 pharmacies were analyzed over nine months, with 4,856 meeting inclusion criteria. Of these, 77% were handwritten and 23% electronic. Illegibility was an issue in 23.1% of handwritten prescriptions, increasing the risk of errors. Generic drug names were included in only 11.42% of handwritten and 26.95% of electronic prescriptions, reducing clarity. Potential DDIs were identified in 52.2% of cases, particularly involving anticoagulants and NSAIDs. Additionally, 3.9% of prescriptions showed evidence of DDIs. Antibiotics (28.03%) and analgesics (22.66%) were the most prescribed medications. While electronic prescriptions improved legibility, both formats lacked essential details. The study highlights the need for improved prescription practices, advocating for mandatory electronic prescribing, enhanced prescriber education and clinical decision support systems to reduce errors, improve patient safety and enhance prescription quality in community pharmacies.