The impact of electronic prescriptions on the medicine dispensing process in Finnish community pharmacies - a survey of pharmacists

Abstract

Objective To explore the impact of electronic prescriptions (ePrescriptions) on the dispensing process in Finnish community pharmacies. Methods A survey of a random sample of dispensers (B.Sc. in Pharmacy) (n = 1004) and pharmacists (M.Sc. in Pharmacy) (n = 228) was conducted in 2014. Key findings Altogether, 778 questionnaires were analysed, giving response rates of 64% (n = 635) for dispensers and 65% (n = 143) for pharmacists. According to the respondents, prescription renewal (75%), transferring prescription data into the pharmacy data system (75%), receiving a prescription (73%), checking prescription information (62%) and making dispensing entries concerning the prescription (58%) have become easier with ePrescriptions. However, correcting dispensing entries afterwards (78%), correcting one's own processing errors made during dispensing (77%), correcting errors on the prescription caused by the physician (73%) and cancellation of medicine dispensing (64%) have been hindered. Technical problems in using ePrescriptions were most often experienced less than once a month. Conclusions Some parts of the dispensing process have become easier, whereas making corrections to the prescription has been hindered with ePrescriptions. Thus, the ePrescription system needs further development to ensure the easy and efficient use of ePrescriptions in the future.