TABLE 3.

Sig Concepts with the Highest QRE Rates

Sig Concept	QRE Classification	Examples	n (%)
Apply product to the affected area twice daily	Missing dose, missing site, and/or contains non-Sig information	Drug: triamcinolone (KENALOG) 0.1 % cream Sig: “Apply topically 2 times daily. PUT ON FILE ONLY”	235 (92.9)
	No QRE	Drug: triamcinolone acetonide 0.1 % topical ointment Sig: “apply by TOPICAL route 2 times every day a thin film to the affected skin areas”	18 (7.1)
	TOTAL		253 (100.0)
Apply product to affected area three times daily for X duration	Missing dose and/or missing site	Drug: BACTROBAN 2% Ointment Sig: “Apply Ointment 3 times a day External FOR 10 days”	34 (91.9)
	No QRE	Drug: erythromycin 5 mg/gram (0.5 %) ointment Sig: “Apply thin ribbon to right eye tid for 5-7 days”	3 (8.1)
	TOTAL		37 (100.0)
Apply product to the affected area twice daily as needed	Missing dose and/or missing site	Drug: Hydrocortisone 1 % External Cream Sig: “1 (one) Cream, External, two times daily, as needed”	20 (90.9)
	No QRE	Drug: triamcinolone acetonide 0.1 % topical cream Sig: “Apply thin film to the affected areas by topical route BID PRN”	2 (9.1)
	TOTAL		22 (100.0)

^a All example Drug Description and Sig text strings are presented exactly as they appeared in the original e-prescription.

BID = twice daily; PRN = as needed; QRE = quality-related event; Sig = prescriber’s directions to the patient; tid = three times a day.