Abstract
The Pharmaceutical Journal of Sri Lanka is the official scientific publication of the Pharmaceutical Society of Sri Lanka. Authors are invited to submit articles throughout the year, and if accepted after a blinded peer review process, will be published online in one of the two issues published each year. The journal including both issues will be printed only once a year. The Pharmaceutical Journal of Sri Lanka aims at providing an avenue for publications by pharmacy undergraduates, university academics, pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientist of Sri Lanka and the South Asian region. The journal accepts original research work either as a full research paper or as a short communication, review, brief report, special communication, commentary, case study and other categories of articles related to pharmaceutical sciences. Articles are accepted on the understanding that they have not been published elsewhere.
Highlights
Dispensing is a complex process [1] which requires, receiving the prescription, analyzing, reviewing, calculating doses, assembling of medications, labeling, checking and handing over of medications with required instructions and counseling
In an Australian study, only 70.9% accepted the possibility of failing to detect dispensing errors in their practice.[19]. In a study done in Nigeria, 50% of the pharmacist estimated the frequency of occurrence of dispensing errors as 1 per 100 prescriptions [28] while pharmacists (53%) in another Nigerian study perceived that they would make 1-2 mistakes or errors a month.[29] in the latter study, it was observed that, pharmacists make more mistake that they perceived where 5% of the pharmacists made more than six mistakes/errors within a month in their actual practice.[29]. This global trend of underestimating dispensing errors could partly be due to the oversight by pharmacists of system errors that lay dormant but could one day transform into an active failure
Most pharmacists were aware that dispensing errors could happen in Sri Lankan hospitals but the majority underestimated the actual prevalence
Summary
Dispensing is a complex process [1] which requires, receiving the prescription, analyzing, reviewing, calculating doses, assembling of medications, labeling, checking and handing over of medications with required instructions and counseling. This study is directed towards bridging the aforesaid gap and to acquire much needed information on knowledge, awareness and perceptions on possible causes of dispensing errors among hospital pharmacists with a goal of ensuring patient safety in the dispensing process. Objectives: To assess awareness and perceptions on the prevalence, nature and possible causes of dispensing errors among pharmacists in selected hospitals in Sri Lanka. Conclusions: Most pharmacists in Sri Lanka were aware of the nature and prevalence of dispensing errors and highlighted numerous system issues that may cause them. These concerns must be urgently addressed by medical administrators to ensure medication safety of patients
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