Affiliations: [a] Medicines Authority, Malta Life Sciences Park, Sir Temi Zammit Buildings, San Ġwann, Malta
| [b] Office of the Commissioner for Mental Health, Ministry for Energy and Health (Health), Malta
| [c] Department of Rheumatology, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta
| [d] Department of Pharmacy, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
| [e] Department of Biology, School of Pharmacy, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Prof John Joseph Borg, PhD, Malta Medicines Authority, Sir Temi Żammit Buildings, Malta Life Sciences Park, San Ġwann SĠN 3000, Malta. Tel.: +356 2343 9129; Fax: +35623439168; E-mail: john-joseph.borg@gov.mt.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Pharmacovigilance directive 2010/84/EU focused attention on medication errors and encouraged regulators to identify causing and contributing factors. OBJECTIVES:(1) To study opinions of doctors/pharmacists on factors bearing a causal link to MEs as well as ways to minimise MEs (2) to test whether differences in opinion exist between subgroups of doctors and pharmacists working in community, hospital or office settings. METHODS:Different questionnaires were circulated to doctors and pharmacists. Respondents were subdivided according to their primary practice. RESULTS:320 responses were received (204 doctors/116 pharmacists). Differences in opinion reaching statistical significance were observed on distractions from staff, overwork and fatigue, availability of technical resources and having more than 1 doctor on duty. For pharmacists’, differences on issues of generic medicine availability and interruptions were found. CONCLUSION:Distractions and interruptions while executing tasks was flagged as an area requiring attention. Issues of overwork and fatigue affect especially doctors in hospital the majority of which are of the opinion that regulatory control on patient numbers could minimize errors. Increasing technical resources and keeping knowledge up-to-date, addressing overwork and high patient workloads have been identified as important areas when looking to reduce MEs.
