Look-alike sound-alike (LASA) medication errors in Thai hospitals / Errores de medicación por sonido similar (LASA) en hospitales tailandeses

Look-alike sound-alike (LASA) drugs cause a high proportion of medication errors in hospitals. Drug lists available in hospitals are diverse and complicated. Presently, each hospital has its own LASA drug list and unique management strategies to minimize and prevent LASA errors. Objective: This study aimed to explore the prevalence of LASA drug lists, types of LASA drugs, and categories of medication errors in hospitals in Thailand. Methods: For this crosssectional study, questionnaires were developed and distributed along with a letter to 500 government hospitals (selected from a total of 1,309 hospitals) in Thailand via mail from April to June 2021. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages). Results: A total of 128 hospitals participated in this study (response rate: 25.60%), including 12 tertiary hospitals (9.38%), 33 secondary hospitals (25.78%), 24 large primary hospitals (18.75%), 51 small primary hospitals (39.84%), and eight private hospitals (6.25%). A total of 2,510 pairs of LASA drugs were identified, which included 1,674 (66.69%) tablets/capsules (Simvastatin 10-Simvastatin 20 pair had the highest frequency), 427 injections (17.01%) (Ceftriaxone-Ceftazidime pair had the highest frequency), 85 liquid dosage forms (3.39%) (Milk of magnesia-alum milk pair had the highest frequency), 74 special techniques in medicine (2.95%) (Seretide evohaler®-Seretide accuhaler® pair had the highest frequency), 49 external used drugs (1.95%) (Clotrimazole cream-Clobetasol cream pair had the highest frequency), and 28 powder dosage forms (1.12%) (ORS for pediatrics-ORS for adult pair had the highest frequency). Conclusion: Despite relevant awareness among healthcare professionals, LASA medication errors occur in hospitals. The most frequent similarities among LASA drugs were detected in their names/pronunciations, and the most common errors belonged to Category B.(AU)

Analogous comparison of registered brand name drugs of tablets and capsules commercially available in Thailand: A retrospective study.

Drug name confusion or similar product packaging and labeling, also known as "look-alike, sound-alike" (LASA) medication error, is one of the most problematic causes of prescribing and dispensing errors. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the similarity of registered brand name drugs of tablets and capsules that are commercially available in Thailand to estimate the magnitude of LASA medication errors. Analogous comparisons of brand names using similarity in orthography (written forms with identical letters) were analyzed retrospectively. Tablets and capsules commercially available in Thailand and registered with the Bureau of Drug Administration, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2012 as "dangerous drugs" and "specially controlled drugs" for humans and animals were included in this study. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, were used in this study. The analogous comparison of brand name orthography was scrutinized, and the results revealed 1,668 brand names, which were categorized into three genres as follows: 1) Single brand names from a single manufacturer having the same active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) with numerous registration numbers (1,049 names, 62.89% of the total similarity results) 2) Single brand names from different manufacturers having the same API and possessing several registration numbers (615 names, 36.87% of the total similarity results) 3) Single brand names from different manufacturers with diverse APIs (four brand names, 0.24% of the total similarity results). Analogous results revealed that numerous identical brand names could be derived from the same manufacturers, APIs, dosage strengths, or otherwise. The results of this study recommend improvement on product registration to better ensure patient safety in the future.