Perceptions of Clinical Pharmacists Regarding Using the Egyptian National Online Reporting System of Medication Errors and Drug Therapy Problems

Abstract

Our study was conducted using a self-administered online questionnaire applying the convenience sampling technique to determine the characteristics of NO HARMe and to identify the barriers that its users face according to their points of view. The questionnaire was generated on a google form, and its link was sent to the participants via email and WhatsApp. All the NO HARMe users were invited to participate in the study. The survey provided insights into the clinical pharmacy activities that the participants did at their workplaces, as well as the main features of NO HARMe. Many participants said that the NO HARMe allowed them to identify the causes of MEs sometimes (57%) and regularly (26%). Also, they sometimes employ the system to provide feedback on the results of error analysis for staff who were involved in the reports (47%). They used NO HARMe to analyze the DTPs/MEs reports, hence identified the needed points of improvement in medication management. Over (70%) of the participants prepared policies and procedures as a result of analyzing the reports (p-value = 0.005). Examples of the prepared policies were; policies for administrating high alert medications (63%), and policies for dispensing look-alike and sound-alike (LASA) medications (61%). They set protocols for rational drug use (74%) (p-value = 0.68), they developed antimicrobial stewardship programs (55%), albumin use protocols (34%), and acid suppressant protocols (19%). While most of the participants (89%) produced educational materials for the staff or the patients about the correct use of medications (p-value = 0.004). Many of them (73%) delivered lectures on the updated treatment guidelines or drug profiles, many designed flyers for patients’ education (69.4%), many produced newsletters to illustrate certain medications’ issues (51.5%), and educational posters to display medications’ dosing (40%).