Author:
Gillette Chris,Perry Courtney J.,Ferreri Stefanie P.,Sisson Caroline Grey Bell,Bodner Gayle B.,Jones Caitlin E.,Rogers Samantha D.,Rose Tiffany H.,Ip Edward Hak-Sing,Crandall Sonia J.
Abstract
Purpose
(1) To describe how often physician assistant (PA) students correctly identify prescribing errors and (2) examine between-cohort differences on ability to correctly identify prescribing errors.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional study of 2 cohorts of PA students at one institution. Students were presented with 3 hypothetical prescriptions, 2 of which contained a prescribing error. For each prescription, students were asked to (1) identify whether an error occurred and (2) indicate the type of error. A simple Poisson regression model analyzed the data.
Results
We received responses from 130 students (72.6% response rate). Approximately 12% (12.3%, n = 16) correctly identified whether all 3 prescriptions were correct. The median number of correctly identified prescriptions was 1 (interquartile range = 1). There was not a statistically significant between-cohort difference identifying the correct number of prescriptions (β = 0.27, P = .10).
Conclusion
Physician assistant students' prescribing error identification was similar to previous research in medical and nursing students. Efforts to improve prescribing training are critical to ensure patient safety.
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Subject
Medical Assisting and Transcription,Education