Background: The risk of medication errors related to drug preparation unit cannot be totally avoided because of human interference. The aim of this study is to investigate the background and knowledge of the pharmacy staff by replicating the cytotoxic preparation unit with potential errors.
Methods: A 10-m2 room was provided to duplicate the centralized chemotherapy unit with three areas reproducing virtually the equipment preparation bench, the isolator, and the dispensing bench. The 14 situations selected by experts were integrated to each corresponded area. For each participant, a form was given and answers were analyzed by two independent experts. Statistical processing data were performed using GraphPad Prism® software.
Results: A total of 19 professionals participated in error simulation workshop over a one-month period. The overall rate of correct responses was 58 ± 19%. In five situations, correct responses rate was lower than 50%: wrong drug batch related to the preparation sheet (40%), inappropriate sterilizing conditions (15%), the time on the preparation sheet provides an expired expiry date for melphalan preparation (45%), a maximum drug dose exceeded (25%), the dispensing form not corresponds to the preparation sheet and final product label (30%). The rate of correct responses was 45 ± 25% for professionals not specifically dedicated to chemotherapy preparation. The overall satisfaction workshop rate was 8.7 ± 1.0 out of 10.
Conclusion: This study showed the importance of training programs to sensitize personal staff to the risks of chemotherapy preparation and prevent errors.
Keywords: Medication error; chemotherapy preparation; evaluation; simulation workshop.