Table 1.
Type and frequency of writing errors found in 2,178 prescriptions
| Type of error | Frequency, n (%) |
|---|---|
| Physician-related information | |
| Name | 26 (1.19) |
| Contact details | 39 (1.79) |
| Signature | 51 (2.34) |
| Patient-related information | |
| Weight | 2,173 (99.77) |
| Address | 2,102 (96.51) |
| Age | 1,524 (69.97) |
| Gender | 1,391 (63.86) |
| Name | 482 (22.13) |
| Prescribed medication-related information | |
| Spelling | 2,124 (97.52) |
| Instructions for use | 2,067 (94.90) |
| Quantity | 1,908 (87.60) |
| Dose interval | 1,824 (83.74) |
| Strength | 1,645 (75.52) |
| Route of administration | 1,608 (73.82) |
| Dose units | 1,573 (72.22) |
| Duration of therapy | 1,433 (65.79) |
| Drug name | 1,098 (50.41) |
| Dosage form | 961 (44.12) |
| Drug abbreviations | 456 (20.93) |
| Unit abbreviations | 811 (37.23) |
| Prescription-related information | |
| Clarity of prescription/legibility | 1,919 (88.10) |
| Diagnosis/indication | 1,770 (81.26) |
| Date of prescription | 1,619 (74.33) |