Implementing a Medication Identification System in Retail Pharmacies to Reduce Medication Error Rates
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Date
2022-07
Department
University of Baltimore. Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences.
Program
University of Baltimore. Master of Science in Interaction Design and Information Architecture.
Citation of Original Publication
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This item may be protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. It is made available by the University of Baltimore for non-commercial research and educational purposes.
Subjects
Abstract
The prescription medication dispensing process in community and retail pharmacies has
long been recognized as a process allowing for human error that can then lead to
medication dispensing errors. One of the conditions that increase the risk of medication
errors is the competing tasks faced by many pharmacy staff. In addition to filling and
dispensing prescriptions, pharmacists and other pharmacy staff are tasked with
counseling patients, administering vaccines, speaking to patients and providers over the
phone, and even more, depending on the position. Recommended changes in the field of
pharmacy include reducing staffing workload and implementing in community
pharmacies some of the technological solutions used in hospitals. These solutions
primarily face cost barriers, leading to resistance from major commercial pharmacies.
This research study explores the potential to leverage technology that already exists in the
community pharmacy setting to reduce dispensing errors. Specifically, the study focuses
on testing the effectiveness of a medication identification system at the point of contact
with users picking up prescriptions in community retail pharmacies. Ten total users took
part in the study. All participants were currently prescribed a minimum of two
prescription medications. Participants were given two scenarios during the user testing
session, one in which the medication they were given matched the medication they were
shown on the verification screen and one that did not match. User tests showed that a pill
identification system could be a successful solution to medication dispensing errors, as all
ten participants were able to successfully identify in the second scenario that the
medication which they were given did not match the medication they were shown on the
prototype. Qualitative results confirmed that the system was regarded as easy to use.
Additionally, the System Usability Scale Questionnaire results confirmed that the
medication identification system was helpful and easy to use. The implementation of this
system in retail pharmacies is likely to assist in the identification of medication
dispensing errors and help protect patients from potential harm.