Am J Health-Syst Pharm
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Order Full text via Infotrieve
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Buchanan, T.
Right arrow Articles by Pearson, R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Buchanan, T.
Right arrow Articles by Pearson, R.
American Journal of Hospital Pharmacy, Vol 48, Issue 10, 2137-2145
Copyright © 1991 by American Society of Health-System Pharmacists

Articles

Illumination and errors in dispensing

TL Buchanan, KN Barker, JT Gibson, BC Jiang, and RE Pearson


The relationship between the level of illumination and the prescription-dispensing error rate in a high-volume Army outpatient pharmacy was investigated. The prescription error rate was determined by direct, undisguised observation and retrospective prescription review under three levels of illumination (45, 102, and 146 foot-candles) during 21 consecutive weekdays. Illumination was controlled in the prescription-checking area of the pharmacy by using additional fluorescent lamps and filters. The three levels of illumination were randomly assigned to the 21 days to provide a total of 7 days of observations per level. The final sample consisted of 10,888 prescriptions dispensed by five pharmacists. The overall prescription error rate (including both content and labeling errors) was 3.39% (369 prescriptions). An illumination level of 146 foot-candles was associated with a significantly lower error rate (2.6%) than the baseline level of 45 foot-candles (3.8%). There was a linear relationship between each pharmacist's error rate and that pharmacist's corresponding daily prescription workload for all three illumination levels. The effect of the observer was minimal. The rate of prescription-dispensing errors was associated with the level of illumination. Ergonomics can affect the performance of professional tasks.
 



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Environment and BehaviorHome page
M. Rashid and C. Zimring
A Review of the Empirical Literature on the Relationships Between Indoor Environment and Stress in Health Care and Office Settings: Problems and Prospects of Sharing Evidence
Environment and Behavior, March 1, 2008; 40(2): 151 - 190.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 American Journal of Medical QualityHome page
C. M. Clancy
Designing for Safety: Evidence-Based Design and Hospitals
American Journal of Medical Quality, February 1, 2008; 23(1): 66 - 69.
[PDF]

Home page
 Am J Health Syst PharmHome page
B. J. Carnahan, S. Maghsoodloo, E. A. Flynn, and K. N. Barker
Geometric probability distribution for modeling of error risk during prescription dispensing.
Am. J. Health Syst. Pharm., June 1, 2006; 63(11): 1056 - 1061.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics SocietyHome page
R. Filik, K. Purdy, A. Gale, and D. Gerrett
Labeling of Medicines and Patient Safety: Evaluating Methods of Reducing Drug Name Confusion
Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, January 1, 2006; 48(1): 39 - 47.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch Intern MedHome page
N. L. Greengold, R. Shane, P. Schneider, E. Flynn, J. Elashoff, C. L. Hoying, K. Barker, and L. B. Bolton
The Impact of Dedicated Medication Nurses on the Medication Administration Error Rate: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Arch Intern Med, October 27, 2003; 163(19): 2359 - 2367.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1991 by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.