Dispensing errors in community pharmacies: A prospective study in Sana'a, Yemen

Aims:  The aim of this study was to determine the dispensing errors that occurred during the dispensing process in a selected community pharmacies in the capital Sana’a, Yemen

Methodology: A prospective study was conducted among community pharmacies in the capital Sana’a, Yemen over three months period from mid-January till mid April 2017. Dispensing errors that were detected during the dispensing process were recorded by the pharmacy dispensers using a data collection form. Detecting and reporting of dispensing errors,  types and causes of dispensing errors was explained to the participated pharmacists before starting the study. The data were descriptively analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences® (IBM SPSS) version 21 for Windows.

Results: A total of 47 (0.82 %) dispensing errors were reported in this study. Wrong dosage form was the most common dispensing error type reported in this study followed by wrong strength, wrong quantity, drug available in  the pharmacy but not given and wrong drug. Factors most commonly reported as contributing to dispensing errors in this study were: prescriptions poor handwriting, similar medications packaging, medication on shelves not arranged correctly, similar drug names and work load.

Conclusion: This study explored the type and causes of dispensing errors at five community pharmacies in the capital Sana'a Yemen. Dispensing errors can be prevented by educational interventions about dispensing errrors and its potential causes. Effevtive collaboration and communication between community pharmacy disspensers and prescribers is an important key to minimize and prevent dispensing erros.