PREVALENCE AND PREDICTORS OF MEDICATION DISCREPANCIES UPON DISCHARGE AMONG ADULT PATIENTS: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY FROM MALAYSIA

Author: Bee Keng LAW, Chee Ping CHONG

Category: Pharmacy

Abstract:

Medication discrepancy is the constant problem being encountered in healthcare settings world wide. This prospective observational study involved internal medicine wards in Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Malaysia in order to investigate the prevalence of the medication discrepancy upon discharge and identify the predictors for it. Results showed that out of 65 discharges, 33 (49%) were found to have medication discrepancy. Twenty six patients (40%) were discharged with at least one unintentional medication discrepancy also known as medication error. The only identified predictor for medication discrepancy upon discharge and medication error was number of discharge medication (adjusted OR 1.435, CI 1.147-1.797, p = 0.002 and adjusted OR 1.198, CI 1.026-1.399, p = 0.022 respectively). The most common type of medication error was omission (42.5%), followed by incomplete prescription (20%). Nutrition and blood was the therapeutic class that most involved in medication discrepancy upon discharge (37%), but 60.9% of it were intentionally made by prescriber.

Keywords: Discharge Medication error Prevalence Medication reconciliation