Abstract:
Background: Prescription errors are defined as a failure in the prescription writing process that
gives wrong instructions to patients. Pharmacists are ones of responsible professionals for
detecting prescription errors and taking appropriate actions to prevent patient harm. The
knowledge and attitudes of pharmacists are imperative to enhance patient safety by preventing
prescription errors.
Objective: To evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of pharmacists regarding prescription errors
in hospitals and community settings within the Galle municipal area
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 60 pharmacists; 30
pharmacists from the outdoor pharmacy department and 30 registered community pharmacists.
Data were gathered through a self-administrated and pre-tested questionnaire. The questionnaire
consisted of socio-demographic data, knowledge, and attitudes of the pharmacists. Pharmacists’
knowledge was assessed using a mock prescription and two questions. One mark was given to
each identified error and correct answer. The respondents were asked 7 questions regarding the
attitudes. The variable was recorded into two, giving 0 marks for responses ‘strongly disagree’,
‘disagree’, ‘neutral’ and 1 for responses ‘agree’, or ‘strongly agree’. Data were analysed using
SPSS version 25.0.
Results: The mean±SD age of the respondents was 37.4±7.6 years, 73.3% were women. The
qualifications of the pharmacists are Degree (8.3%), Diploma (48.3%) and certificate of
proficiency (43.3%). The mean score of total knowledge of hospital and community pharmacists
were 13.0±1.7 and 13.3±2.3, respectively out of 19 marks. The mean score of total attitudes of
hospital pharmacists was 5.9±1.1 and score of community pharmacists was 5.6±1.1. The attitudes
among pharmacists in selected hospitals and community pharmacies were significantly influenced
by age (p=0.018). The knowledge among pharmacists was not significantly associated with socio
demographic factors (age, sex, setting, educational qualification).
Conclusions: The knowledge of prescription errors is approximately same level among hospital
and community pharmacists. It was evident that pharmacists needed more knowledge and training
in detection of prescription errors. It is recommended to organize educational programs on
prescription errors.
