Abstract
When the aseptic mixture preparation service for ambulatory cancer chemotherapy was started,we felt that by providing information to aid persons making and checking preparations we could help prevent preparation errors.We studied the best way of providing information,monitored prescriptions we thought had high preparation risks and evaluated preparation errors after the introduction of our system.We considered that 3 types of information were necessary-“Precautions in Protocol”,“Important Notices to Patients”,and“Preparation Procedures”-and recorded each type in our injection label and audit information system.The information was also displayed on the label for every prescription.
From January 2004 to June 2006,the proportion of prescriptions for which discomfort to the patient was prevented by avoiding preparation errors through the use of the information provided was 8.7%.For medicines that require reconstitution at the time of use,there is a possibility of errors in choosing the solvent and diluent,and it was found that preparations requiring reconstitution accounted for 23.4% of the total.Also,the number of preparations thought to be at risk of calculation errors because of prescription quantities not being integral multiples of drug standards was 23.7%.In the period under investigation,there were 5 errors related to labels but there were none related to preparation quantities.The 5 errors did not seem to influence treatment.
We consider that the information displayed on drug labels,including that for high-risk prescriptions such as those mentioned above,is an effective means of reducing the risk of errors in the preparation of anticancer agents.
