Exploration into the Reduction of Pharmacy Dispensing Errors

EXPLORATION INTO THE
REDUCTION OF
PHARMACY DISPENSING
ERRORS

ABSTRACT
Dispensing error is referred to as the difference between the prescription provided and the
medicine being provided to the patient. This is majorly because of the reason that when there
will be difference between the prescription and the medicine provided then this will create
problem in managing the health and safety of the person. Dispensing error is mainly referred to
as the range of discrepancy which is linked with the prescription and also the medicines which in
turn has been delivered to the patient by the pharmacy on the key basis of prescription. With the
help of the methodology section it was seen that the method for the study chosen was the
qualitative research as the researcher anted to gain in- depth knowledge relating to the research
topic that is how medication reduces dispensing error. Further, with the help of the feasibility
study it was seen that finance was the major resource necessary for the success of the research.
With the study of impact it was seen that if country and medical health care providers use right
medicine of desired quality and also deliver the same to correct time, with right dose, strength
and frequency in both verbal and written format with appropriate packaging will help to sustain
the brand image of the country and provides healthy community as well.

Table of Contents
Formative Assessment.....................................................................................................................4
Research question: ..........................................................................................................................4
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
Background/ literature review..........................................................................................................4
Aim and objective of research.........................................................................................................5
Research aim: ..............................................................................................................................5
Research objectives: ....................................................................................................................5
Possible Methodology......................................................................................................................6
Potential resources and timeline......................................................................................................6
Summative Assessment...................................................................................................................9
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................9
Research objectives: ....................................................................................................................9
Research question: ......................................................................................................................9
LITERATURE REVIEW..............................................................................................................10
METHODOLOGY........................................................................................................................14
A) Aims and objectives..............................................................................................................14
B) Study design and development.............................................................................................15
C) Study population...................................................................................................................15
D) Data management to include collection and storage and analysis........................................16
E) Study limitation.....................................................................................................................16
F) Ethical issues and their migration.........................................................................................17
FEASIBILITY STUDY- RESOURCES AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATION...................17
IMPACT........................................................................................................................................19
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................22

Research Title:
An Exploration into the reduction of Pharmacy dispensing Errors
Formative Assessment
Research question:
How pharmacy can minimise the errors in medication.
Rationale- the major reason behind the selection of the research topic of ‘how pharmacy can
minimise the errors in medication is that in the current modern world there are many different
types of errors taking place in the medication of the people. Thus, this research will assist in
managing the various ways in which the company or the health care setup in managing the health
and medication of the patients coming to the place.
INTRODUCTION
Dispensing medicine define as a method of giving medicating to the patient along with
providing them knowledge related to the drugs as well as showings them the dose for patient
safety and health. For reducing the dispensing error United Kingdom is maintaining a ward
pharmacy system. In this research, aim and objective is going to be formulated so that the whole
investigation can be done in a systematic manner. It has been said that United States National
Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention (NCC MERP) says that a
medication issue refers to “any preventable event which might create inappropriate medication
use as well as patient might get harm at the time of medication in the control of health care
professional, consumer as well as patient. Such events may be associates to the professional
practice, health care procedures, products and systems, consist of prescribing, order
communication, packaging, and nomenclature, dispensing, distribution, education, monitoring as
well as use” Also this research includes various authors view point and for which literature
review section is going to be developed.
Background/ literature review
As per the views of McDerby and et.al, (2019) dispensing error is defined as the
discrepancy or the inconsistency which is present between the medicine prescribed and the
medicine which is being delivered to the patient. This is the error which need to be taken care as
if there will be more error then this will have a great impact over the treatment and the
medication of the patient and this can also impact the recovery of the patient.

Along with this Lloyd and et.al, (2016) argues that for proper working and caring of the
patient the most essential thing is that the pharmacist must have proper knowledge relating to the
adverse effect which may take place at time of managing the prescription and the medicines of
patients. This is particularly because of the fact that is the person dealing in medicine does not
know the effect of any drug and they give it to the patient who is not prescribed of that then this
can have very bad effect over the health of the patients.
In addition to this Stewart and et.al, (2018) articulates that the management of the drug
and its usage for the person or the patient is very essential to have the knowledge. Thus, if the
person or the pharmacist are having proper knowledge relating to the use of the drugs. This is
helpful as if the person is having proper knowledge relating to the fact that when to use which
drug then there will not be any of the error and this will have good and positive impact over the
patient and will result in healthy recovery of the patient.
Along with this Wheeler and et.al, (2018) states that when the people dealing in drug and
the different medicines then this will have a great impact over the effect of the consumption of
the drug. It is the responsibility of the person to gain all the knowledge relating to the drug usage
and consumption and also to gain the knowledge relating to the effect of the consumption of the
drug and what will happen if the drug dosage is increased without seeking permission of the
doctor or the medical practitioner.
Aim and objective of research
Research aim:
 To know the basic concept about dispensing errors.
 To evaluate the dispensing error pharmacist awareness about all kind of adverse effect. To avoid the drug interaction and its adverse side effect
Research objectives:
 What is the meaning of dispensing errors?
 How to understand dispensing error pharmacist awareness about all kind of adverse
effect.
 How to avoid the drug interaction and its adverse side effect?

Possible Methodology
This is one of the main section for every research where best and most suitable method used
by the researcher for collecting information and data related to the topic. There are various
techniques which are going to be discussed as follows:
Primary and secondary data collection method
In context of gathering primary information, it is said that researcher adopt questionnaire
method where by using online mode of filling questionnaire is used due to COVID 19. On the
other hand, in case of secondary method, literature review is the method used by investigator
where view point of different authors analysed by the researcher.
Qualitative and quantitative approach
There are two main approaches for gathering information where one is qualitative is
completely based on human perception and includes all the data which are non- numerical in
form. On the other hand, in case of quantitative method, data collected by investigators are in
number form where graph, figures and statistical data are included. In this research, investigators
adopt quantitative method for collecting all the information and data.
Potential resources and timeline
The potential resources which are essential for the completion of the research is of
various types like the internet, computer, laptops, transportation, stationery, personal
expenditure, communication cost and many other different types of resources and other
instruments and material. All these resources are very essential for the researcher to make use as
this will assist the researcher in making the research successful.