Self-medication errors in community pharmacies.

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy practice and medication safety research.
• Public health and patient safety.
• Pharmacovigilance of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines.

Background:

• Safe self-medication involves correct indication and temporary use.
• Identifying risk and protective factors is crucial for preventing medication errors.
• Improving self-medication safety enhances patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify self-medication errors within community pharmacies.
• To classify risk and protective factors associated with these errors.
• To focus on high-risk over-the-counter (OTC) medicines.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective nationwide register-based study.
• Analysis of self-medication errors reported in the Finnish national Incident Reporting System.
• Qualitative content analysis of risk and protective factors, classifying errors as customer- or professional-related.

Main Results:

• 316 self-medication errors identified; customer-related errors (n=219) were more common, often near misses.
• 59% of errors involved National High-Risk OTC medicines; professional-related errors (n=97) were mostly actual errors (91%), with 37% involving look-alike, sound-alike (LASA) medicines.
• High-risk OTC medicines, contraindications, and misconceptions were customer-related risks; medication counseling was the primary protective factor. LASA medicines and inadequate needs assessment were professional-related risks.

Conclusions:

• National High-Risk OTC medicines posed a significant risk when customers self-selected them.
• Pharmacists' medication counseling, including needs assessment and contraindication checks, was the most effective protective factor against self-medication errors.
• Addressing customer misconceptions and professional practices related to LASA medicines is vital for enhancing self-medication safety.