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Pre-prescribing: a safe way to learn at work?

2012; Wiley; Volume: 9; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/j.1743-498x.2011.00506.x

1743-498X

Samantha Smith, Victoria Ruth Tallentire, Helen Cameron, S. Morwenna Wood,

Healthcare Quality and Management

The Clinical TeacherVolume 9, Issue 1 p. 45-49 Patient safety Pre-prescribing: a safe way to learn at work? Samantha E. Smith, Samantha E. SmithSearch for more papers by this authorVictoria R. Tallentire, Victoria R. TallentireSearch for more papers by this authorHelen S. Cameron, Helen S. CameronSearch for more papers by this authorS. Morwenna Wood, S. Morwenna WoodSearch for more papers by this author Samantha E. Smith, Samantha E. SmithSearch for more papers by this authorVictoria R. Tallentire, Victoria R. TallentireSearch for more papers by this authorHelen S. Cameron, Helen S. CameronSearch for more papers by this authorS. Morwenna Wood, S. Morwenna WoodSearch for more papers by this author First published: 06 January 2012 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-498X.2011.00506.xCitations: 11 Corresponding author's contact details: Samantha Smith, Centre for Medical Education, University of Edinburgh, Room GU315, Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK. E-mail: sam.smith@ed.ac.uk Funding: Funding for this study was provided by the University of Edinburgh Principal's Teaching Award Scheme. Conflict of interest: None. Ethical approval: Ethical approval was granted by both the University Committee on the Use of Student Volunteers and the East of Scotland Research Ethics Service. Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Summary Background: The General Medical Council mandates that UK medical graduates must be able to 'prescribe drugs safely, effectively and economically'. However, data from three UK medical schools show that graduates are poorly prepared for prescribing, and a recent study detected a prescribing error rate of 8.4 per cent amongst foundation year 1 doctors. Context: This study took place in the National Health Service (NHS) Fife where, in common with all health boards in the UK, medical students are not permitted to prescribe. University of Edinburgh final-year medical student volunteers took part in the study. Innovation: Medical, pharmacy and nursing staff collaborated to design and implement a controlled process (pre-prescribing) that allows medical students to write instructions on in-patient drug charts, and requires a doctor's countersignature before drugs are dispensed. Key features of the pre-prescribing protocol include fluorescent stickers for drug charts, bookmark aide-memoires to guide countersigning and ward-based information sheets. Twelve final-year medical students wrote 586 pre-prescriptions, and no adverse events were reported. Implications: This study demonstrates the successful small-scale implementation of pre-prescribing. Initial data regarding the safety of the process is positive, but further evaluation is required to reassure all that the risk of adverse events is minimal. The project is to be expanded throughout South East Scotland with a view to all units providing the opportunity for pre-prescribing during the first student assistantships in March 2012. The longer-term goal is to set-up safe processes that will support medical students undertaking pre-prescribing throughout most of their final year. Citing Literature Volume9, Issue1February 2012Pages 45-49 RelatedInformation