RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Prescribing errors in hospital inpatients: a three-centre study of their prevalence, types and causes JF Postgraduate Medical Journal JO Postgrad Med J FD The Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine SP 739 OP 745 DO 10.1136/pgmj.2011.117879 VO 87 IS 1033 A1 Franklin, Bryony Dean A1 Reynolds, Matthew A1 Shebl, Nada Atef A1 Burnett, Susan A1 Jacklin, Ann YR 2011 UL http://pmj.bmj.com/content/87/1033/739.abstract AB Aim To compare the prevalence and causes of prescribing errors in newly written medication orders and how quickly they were rectified, in three NHS organisations.Methods Errors in newly written inpatient and discharge medication orders were recorded in Spring/Summer 2009 by ward pharmacists on medical admissions and surgical wards, as well as the number of erroneous doses administered (or omitted) before errors were corrected. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the effects of ward (nested within organisation) and clinical specialty, and whether the pharmacist had checked the patient's medication history during data collection. Causes were explored using semistructured interviews with key informants.Results Overall, 1025 prescribing errors were identified in 974 of 6605 medication orders (14.7%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 13.8% to 15.6%). A mean of 0.9 doses were administered (or omitted) before each error was corrected (range 0–11), with differences between specialties and organisations. The error rate on medical admissions wards (16.3%) was significantly higher than that on surgical wards (12.2%), but this was accounted for by the higher proportion of prescribing being on admission, where omission of patients' usual medication was often identified. There were significant differences among wards (and organisations). Contributing factors included lack of feedback on errors, poor documentation and communication of prescribing decisions, and lack of information about patients' medication histories from primary care.Conclusions There were variations among wards, organisations and specialties in error rates and how quickly they were rectified. Exploring reasons for differences between organisations may be useful in identifying best practice and potential solutions.