Pharmaceutical examination of prescriptions from pharmacy chains of the Republic of Crimea from 2020 to 2021

Introduction. Along with the correct diagnosis of the disease, the stage of choosing the means of pharmacological correction is important, as well as the correct registration of the application to the pharmacy and ensuring the patient’s access to the necessary medication.

The purpose of the study is the pharmacological examination of prescription forms received by pharmacy institutions of the Republic of Crimea for the period 2020–2021.

Materials and methods. The object of the study was a random sample of three hundred thirty two scanned copies of prescription forms No. 148-1/u-04 (L), No. 107-1/u. Additionally, we conducted a survey of pharmacy staff (n = 46). The questionnaire included questions on the analyzed error groups, and also assumed a subjective assessment of the impact of the fact of incorrect prescriptions on the work process. Over the course of the study, methods of analysis, descriptive statistics, comparison, and survey were used.

Results. The main violations identified in the analyzed prescription forms were incorrect indications of the dosage forms (DF) of the prescribed drugs, as well as inaccuracies in their single and/or daily dosages. In 74 of the received recipes, errors were made when specifying the DF. The study of the frequency of prescribing medication of the certain pharmacological groups allowed determining the largest number of prescriptions to be written for drugs of the anxiolytic group, nootropic drugs, antidepressants. The result of a survey of employees of pharmacy chains revealed to be faced with incorrectly issued prescription forms on a daily basis.

Limitations. During the pharmaceutical examination of copies of prescription forms received from pharmacy chains of the Republic of Crimea, 322 prescription forms were analyzed, which is a sufficient reference sample.

Conclusion. When studying individual prescription forms, a sufficient number of various errors were revealed, which may entail a decrease in the quality of medical care for patients on the one hand, and on the other hand, suggests the occurrence of certain difficulties in the work of pharmaceutical workers.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the Order of the Red Banner of Labor of the Medical Institute named after S.I. Georgievsky of the Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education “Crimean Federal University” (protocol No. 10 of November 16, 2023). Written voluntary consent was received from all participants.

Contribution of the authors:
Egorova E.A. — research concept and design;
Useinova A.N. — research concept and design, editing;
Shtyrkova L.V. — material collection and processing, statistical processing, compilation of the list of literature;
Radkovskij V.A. — material collection and processing, statistical processing, compilation of the list of literature.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Acknowledgment. The study had no sponsorship.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Received: August 23, 2022 /Accepted: October 19, 2022 / Published: February 26, 2024