Background and Objectives: A first step in reducing medication errors is for health care workers to be aware of a patient's medications, allergies, and any previously documented adverse drug events (ADEs). This study sought to determine the frequency of medication and allergy/ADE-related discrepancies in a family medicine residency clinic. Methods: Patients were contacted prior to appointments and asked to bring in prescription and over-the-counter medications. A research assistant interviewed 157 patients and recorded each drug a patient was taking, together with dosage, dosing frequency, known allergies, and demographic information. This information was then compared to similar information in the medical record. Results: Overall, 97% of patients had at least one discrepancy between medications listed in the medical record and medications they were taking, and 32% had an allergy/ADE discrepancy. Discrepancies were highest for women, those with cardiovascular disease, and those hospitalized within the last year. Only the total number of medications was predictive of a discrepancy, however, accounting for 25% of the variability. Conclusions: A higher medication discrepancy rate existed in this family medicine residency clinic than the 26%-76% rate that is documented in the literature. The results point to a need for better medication, allergy, and ADE awareness.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ETSU/oai:dc.etsu.edu:etsu-works-18826 |
| Date | 01 February 2008 |
| Creators | Stephens, Mary, Fox, Beth, Kukulka, Gary, Bellamy, Judith |
| Publisher | Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University |
| Source Sets | East Tennessee State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Source | ETSU Faculty Works |
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