Work

Prevalence and patterns of prescription errors and potential drug–drug interactions in Yemeni healthcare facilities: a cross-sectional study

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Medication errors, particularly prescription errors, are a major source of preventable patient harm. Errors in handwritten prescriptions can compromise treatment outcomes, increase healthcare costs, and lead to adverse drug events. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and types of prescription errors, as well as potential drug-drug interactions (DDIs), in Dhamar city, Yemen. METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted over three months (March-May 2024) across emergency departments and outpatient clinics in multiple specialties, including internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, and others, in both public and private hospitals. A total of 628 handwritten prescriptions were reviewed, with 300 prescriptions identified as containing errors. Data were collected on prescriber details, patient information, and medication parameters. Potential DDIs were assessed using validated drug interaction databases (Micromedex, Medscape, and WebMD). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data as frequencies and percentages. The chi-square test was used to assess associations between prescriber qualification and potential DDIs, while Spearman's rank correlation was applied to evaluate the relationship between the number of prescribed medications and the occurrence of DDIs. All analyses were performed using SPSS v26. RESULTS: Of the 628 prescriptions reviewed, 300 (47.8%) contained one or more prescription errors, totaling 2,008 errors (average 6.7 errors per prescription). The most common errors were medication-related (39.3%), followed by patient-related (34.2%), prescriber-related (13.9%), and general prescription errors (12.4%). Potential DDIs were identified in 133 prescriptions (44.3%), with most requiring close monitoring (78.2%) and 6.7% classified as serious. Polypharmacy and high-risk populations, including elderly patients and those with chronic diseases, were associated with a higher likelihood of interactions. CONCLUSIONS: Prescription errors are highly prevalent in handwritten medical prescriptions in Dhamar city, Yemen, with medication-related omissions being most common. Potential DDIs are frequent, particularly in prescriptions with multiple drugs and in vulnerable populations. The findings highlight the need for improved prescribing practices, enhanced prescriber education, and greater involvement of clinical pharmacists to improve medication safety in resource-limited settings.

Source: BMC Health Services Research

DOI: 10.1186/s12913-026-15281-9