PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - R G Neville
AU  - F Robertson
AU  - S Livingstone
AU  - I K Crombie
TI  - A classification of prescription errors.
DP  - 1989 Mar 01
TA  - The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
PG  - 110--112
VI  - 39
IP  - 320
4099  - http://bjgp.org/content/39/320/110.short
4100  - http://bjgp.org/content/39/320/110.full
SO  - J R Coll Gen Pract1989 Mar 01; 39
AB  - Three independent methods of study of prescription errors led to the development of a classification of errors based on the potential effects and inconvenience to patients, pharmacists and doctors. Four types of error are described: type A (potentially serious to patient); type B (major nuisance - pharmacist/doctor contact required); type C (minor nuisance - pharmacist must use professional judgement); and type D (trivial). The types of frequency of errors are detailed for a group of eight principals from one health centre. There were a total of 504 errors from 15,916 prescription items (3.17%) during a three month observation period. A close correspondence was found between individual doctor's types of error rates, suggesting that doctors who make type C and D errors are also likely to make type B (major nuisance) errors. A system of feedback of errors from each doctor was devised. No significant reduction was seen in error rates, possibly because the group of self selected doctors taking part had low error rates initially. It is suggested that pharmacists and doctors should work closely together to prevent the potentially harmful consequences of prescription errors.