A descriptive evaluation of resident prescription writing errors and self-perceived learning needs in dermatology

Abstract

Prescribing errors in medical practice are common, and may be preventable in a significant proportion of cases. The literature on dermatological prescription errors is scarce. We sought to determine the rate and causes of resident prescribing errors in an outpatient dermatology practice, and surveyed residents' self-perceived prescription writing learning needs. All prescription errors were tabulated at the Ricky Kanee Schachter Dermatology Clinic (Women's College Hospital) from November 2019 to January 2020. There was an overall prescribing error rate of 1.58% (23/1457), with no significant difference between topical and systemic drugs (1.85% and 0.86%, respectively; P = 0.20) or between written prescriptions and those created by the electronic medical record (1.66% and 1.29%, respectively; P = 0.84). The survey response rate was 26.2% (22/82), with respondents reporting their overall confidence in dermatology prescription writing as (mean ± SD) 7.14 ± 1.75 out of 10. While the resident prescribing error rate was relatively low, multiple errors were avoidable, and residents agree that targeted dermatology-specific training in prescription writing is needed.