The prevalence of medication errors among geriatric In Outpatient Pharmacy Sarawak General Hospital

A research study has been done on medication error among geriatric patients to obtain the prevalence and strategies to minimize the errors. This study focuses on error that can be detected through their prescription and the outcomes are very crucial for all of the medical staffs to be aware of. This research was done in Sarawak General Hospital, in Outpatient Pharmacy Department. Our study population are geriatric patients above 60 years old. A retrospective study conducted involved the screening of prescription for 5 months periods. Errors were traced by checking their prescription details which are patient's information, date, diagnosis, medication name, strength of medication, frequency, and absence of specialist signature or prescriber name. The number of prescriptions received by the pharmacy was in the range of minimum 800 prescriptions and maximum 1,300 prescriptions per day. Data obtained has been analysed using Microsoft Excel 2007. An average of 32% percent of the prescriptions is categorized under geriatric patient per month. Out of 32%, 4.5% of them have medication error problems. It was estimated that medication error could reach up to 2000 for 5 months period. As from the result that has been achieved, the prevalence of medication error among geriatric patient is 6.86%. Problems involving prescriber’s information, signature and countersign had the most number of errors and the lowest is error in medication given to the patients.