Risk assessment of look‒alike, sound‒alike (LASA) medication errors in an Italian hospital pharmacy: A model based on the ‘Failure Mode and Effect Analysis’

Introduction: Look alike/sound alike (LASA) drugs errors can take place in hospital wards, and they can place patients at risk for adverse events and death. This study was aimed to realize a risk assessment model for preventing LASA drugs distribution errors by the ‘S.Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d’Arag...

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Main Authors: Nestor Ciociano, Lucilla Grisi, Lucia Bagnasco, Maria Giovanna Elberti, Marcello Mazzarella
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Edizioni FS 2017-03-01
Series:Journal of Health and Social Sciences
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Online Access:http://journalhss.com/wp-content/uploads/JHHS21_47-64.pdf
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author Nestor Ciociano
Lucilla Grisi
Lucia Bagnasco
Maria Giovanna Elberti
Marcello Mazzarella
author_facet Nestor Ciociano
Lucilla Grisi
Lucia Bagnasco
Maria Giovanna Elberti
Marcello Mazzarella
author_sort Nestor Ciociano
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Look alike/sound alike (LASA) drugs errors can take place in hospital wards, and they can place patients at risk for adverse events and death. This study was aimed to realize a risk assessment model for preventing LASA drugs distribution errors by the ‘S.Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d’Aragona’ hospital pharmacy, in Salerno, Italy. Methods: We used the ‘Failure Mode and Effect Analysis’ (FMEA) technique in combination with the Recommendations released by the Italian Ministry of Health in 2010. Our analysis led to the identification of the potential failure modes, together with their causes and effects, using the risk priority number (RPN) scoring system. A paired T test was used to compare means of RPN 1 and RPN 2, respectively before and after their application, in order to evaluate the effectiveness of corrective actions. Results: In total, 6 phases, 16 steps, and 13 different potential failure modes were identified. The highest ranked failure modes, with an RPN score of 48 pertained to wrong drug dosage selection. Some of the critical failure modes in sample processing (phases n.1, 2, 3, and 4) were improved by 69.7% in the RPN by focusing on automated technology systems. T test showed that the difference between RPN 1 and RPN 2 was statistically significant for all corrective measures provided by our action plan. Conclusions: Our study showed a lot of potential failure modes related to LASA drugs distribution system provided by the hospital pharmacy. Information technology solutions can be effective to reduce this risk, but the potential for error will remain unless these systems are carefully implemented.
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spelling doaj-art-d8a5284e65ba4c0cb38689c9a60eb8052025-01-18T18:20:30ZengEdizioni FSJournal of Health and Social Sciences2499-22402499-58862017-03-0121476410.19204/2017/rsks4Risk assessment of look‒alike, sound‒alike (LASA) medication errors in an Italian hospital pharmacy: A model based on the ‘Failure Mode and Effect Analysis’Nestor Ciociano0Lucilla Grisi1Lucia Bagnasco2Maria Giovanna Elberti3Marcello Mazzarella4ASL TO4 Chivasso, Turin, Italy San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d’Aragona Hospital, Salerno, ItalyASL CN 1 Savigliano, Cuneo, ItalySan Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d’Aragona Hospital, Salerno, ItalyFaculty of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Salerno, ItalyIntroduction: Look alike/sound alike (LASA) drugs errors can take place in hospital wards, and they can place patients at risk for adverse events and death. This study was aimed to realize a risk assessment model for preventing LASA drugs distribution errors by the ‘S.Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d’Aragona’ hospital pharmacy, in Salerno, Italy. Methods: We used the ‘Failure Mode and Effect Analysis’ (FMEA) technique in combination with the Recommendations released by the Italian Ministry of Health in 2010. Our analysis led to the identification of the potential failure modes, together with their causes and effects, using the risk priority number (RPN) scoring system. A paired T test was used to compare means of RPN 1 and RPN 2, respectively before and after their application, in order to evaluate the effectiveness of corrective actions. Results: In total, 6 phases, 16 steps, and 13 different potential failure modes were identified. The highest ranked failure modes, with an RPN score of 48 pertained to wrong drug dosage selection. Some of the critical failure modes in sample processing (phases n.1, 2, 3, and 4) were improved by 69.7% in the RPN by focusing on automated technology systems. T test showed that the difference between RPN 1 and RPN 2 was statistically significant for all corrective measures provided by our action plan. Conclusions: Our study showed a lot of potential failure modes related to LASA drugs distribution system provided by the hospital pharmacy. Information technology solutions can be effective to reduce this risk, but the potential for error will remain unless these systems are carefully implemented.http://journalhss.com/wp-content/uploads/JHHS21_47-64.pdfrisk management; risk assessment; LASA drugs; drug safety; FMEA; patient safety.risk managementrisk assessementLASA drugsdrug safetyFMEApatient safety
spellingShingle Nestor Ciociano
Lucilla Grisi
Lucia Bagnasco
Maria Giovanna Elberti
Marcello Mazzarella
Risk assessment of look‒alike, sound‒alike (LASA) medication errors in an Italian hospital pharmacy: A model based on the ‘Failure Mode and Effect Analysis’
Journal of Health and Social Sciences
risk management; risk assessment; LASA drugs; drug safety; FMEA; patient safety.
risk management
risk assessement
LASA drugs
drug safety
FMEA
patient safety
title Risk assessment of look‒alike, sound‒alike (LASA) medication errors in an Italian hospital pharmacy: A model based on the ‘Failure Mode and Effect Analysis’
title_full Risk assessment of look‒alike, sound‒alike (LASA) medication errors in an Italian hospital pharmacy: A model based on the ‘Failure Mode and Effect Analysis’
title_fullStr Risk assessment of look‒alike, sound‒alike (LASA) medication errors in an Italian hospital pharmacy: A model based on the ‘Failure Mode and Effect Analysis’
title_full_unstemmed Risk assessment of look‒alike, sound‒alike (LASA) medication errors in an Italian hospital pharmacy: A model based on the ‘Failure Mode and Effect Analysis’
title_short Risk assessment of look‒alike, sound‒alike (LASA) medication errors in an Italian hospital pharmacy: A model based on the ‘Failure Mode and Effect Analysis’
title_sort risk assessment of look alike sound alike lasa medication errors in an italian hospital pharmacy a model based on the failure mode and effect analysis
topic risk management; risk assessment; LASA drugs; drug safety; FMEA; patient safety.
risk management
risk assessement
LASA drugs
drug safety
FMEA
patient safety
url http://journalhss.com/wp-content/uploads/JHHS21_47-64.pdf
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