Hospital drug distribution systems in the UK and Germany - a study of medication errors

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of medication errors and the stages of the drug distribution system at which they occur in a United Kingdom (UK) hospital using the ward pharmacy system, a German hospital using the unit dose system and a German hospital using their traditional system. Medication errors were identified by observing the preparation and administration of regularly scheduled solid oral medication. In the UK hospital using the ward pharmacy system, the medication error rate was 8.0% (95% confidence interval 6.2-9.8%). The majority of these errors occurred at the stage of medication administration. In the hospital using the traditional German system, the error ra..