Abstract
Paediatric patients are unique, yet challenging patients to care for by pharmacists. Paediatric medicine use requires special consideration. Pharmacists play an important role in educating and counselling patients, carers, and healthcare workers. Further, pharmacists have the necessary knowledge and skills to optimise safe medicine use in paediatric patients. This article provides basic principles for safe practices in paediatric medicine by following the nine rights of medication administration.
Highlights
Incorrect dosing of medicines is a frequently reported medication error [1,2,3,4]
A South African study conducted in a public sector tertiary hospital in 2017 reported that 78% of patients in the paediatric and neonatal intensive care units were exposed to at least one medication error [5]
We focus on pharmacists’ role and their ability to optimise their approach to paediatric medicine and patient care in hospital and community settings
Summary
Incorrect dosing of medicines is a frequently reported medication error [1,2,3,4]. A South African study conducted in a public sector tertiary hospital in 2017 reported that 78% of patients in the paediatric and neonatal intensive care units were exposed to at least one medication error [5]. A ‘medication error’ is a preventable event that occurs during any step of the medication use process (i.e., prescribing, preparing, dispensing, and administering) [10,11,12] When these errors are not prevented, it can lead to potentially harmful adverse events. A paediatric patient in the intensive care unit is at a higher risk for medication errors since they are prescribed numerous medicines to treat severe diseases. These conditions require intravenous therapy, which often needs dilution and/or reconstitution [13]. Medicines that are associated with errors in paediatric patients include anti-infectives, electrolytes and fluids, analgesics, sedatives, and proton pump inhibitors [2,14]
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