Document Detail


Compliance towards dispensed medication labelling standards: a cross-sectional study in the state of Penang, Malaysia.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19534650     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Good medicine labelling practice is vital to ensure safe use of medicines. Non-compliance to labelling standards is a potential source of medication errors. This study was intended to evaluate and compare compliance towards labelling standard for dispensed medications between community pharmacists and general practitioners in Penang, Malaysia. A total of 128 community pharmacies and 26 general practitioners' clinics were visited. Using 'Simulated Client Method' (SCM), data were collected on the medications dispensed upon presentation of hypothetical common cold symptoms. The medications dispensed were evaluated for labelling adequacy. Result revealed that majority of the dispensed medications obtained were not labelled according to regulatory requirements. However, general practitioners complied better than community pharmacists in terms of labelling for: name of patient (p<0.001), details of supplier (p<0.001), dosage of medication (p=0.023), frequency to take medication (p=0.023), patient's reference number (p<0.001), date of supply (p<0.001), special instructions for medication (p=0.008), storage requirements (p=0.002), and indication for medication (p<0.001). Conversely, community pharmacists labelled dispensed medications with the words "Controlled Medicine" more often than did general practitioners (p<0.001). Although laws for labelling dispensed medicines are in place, most community pharmacists and general practitioners did not comply accordingly, thereby putting patients' safety at risks of medication errors.
Authors:
Chin Fen Neoh; Mohamed Azmi Hassali; Asrul Akmal Shafie; Ahmed Awaisu; Jayabalan Tambyappa
Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Journal Article     Date:  2009-09-01
Journal Detail:
Title:  Current drug safety     Volume:  4     ISSN:  1574-8863     ISO Abbreviation:  -     Publication Date:  2009 Sep 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-10-05     Completed Date:  2009-12-11     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  101270895     Medline TA:  Curr Drug Saf     Country:  United Arab Emirates    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  199-203     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), 13500 Permatang Pauh, Penang, Malaysia.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Common Cold / drug therapy*
Community Pharmacy Services / standards*
Consumer Product Safety
Cross-Sectional Studies
Drug Labeling / standards*
Family Practice / standards*
Guideline Adherence
Guidelines as Topic
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Malaysia
Medication Errors / prevention & control
Patient Education as Topic
Pilot Projects

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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