Prescribing errors in a Brazilian neonatal intensive care unit / Erros de prescrição em uma unidade de terapia intensiva neonatal brasileira / Errores de prescripción en una unidad de terapia intensiva neonatal brasileña

Abstract Pediatric patients, especially those admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (ICU), are highly vulnerable to medication errors. This study aimed to measure the prescription error rate in a university hospital neonatal ICU and to identify susceptible patients, types of errors, and the medicines involved. The variables related to medicines prescribed were compared to the Neofax prescription protocol. The study enrolled 150 newborns and analyzed 489 prescription order forms, with 1,491 medication items, corresponding to 46 drugs. Prescription error rate was 43.5%. Errors were found in dosage, intervals, diluents, and infusion time, distributed across 7 therapeutic classes. Errors were more frequent in preterm newborns. Diluent and dosing were the most frequent sources of errors. The therapeutic classes most involved in errors were antimicrobial agents and drugs that act on the nervous and cardiovascular systems.

Resumo Pacientes pediátricos, principalmente internados em unidades de terapia intensiva (UTI) neonatal, são altamente vulneráveis aos erros de medicação. O objetivo deste trabalho foi conhecer a frequência dos erros de prescrição em uma UTI neonatal de um hospital universitário, bem como os pacientes susceptíveis, os tipos de erros e os medicamentos envolvidos. As variáveis prescritas relacionadas aos medicamentos foram comparadas com a base utilizada como referência para a prescrição na unidade (Neofax). Participaram do estudo 150 recém-nascidos. Foram analisadas 489 prescrições, 1.491 itens de medicamentos, correspondendo a 46 fármacos. A taxa de erros de prescrição foi de 43,5%. Foram encontrados erros de dose, intervalo, diluente e tempo de infusão, distribuídos em sete classes terapêuticas. A ocorrência de erros foi maior em recém-nascidos pré-termos. Os erros de diluente e de dose foram os mais frequentes. As classes de medicamentos mais envolvidas nos erros foram os anti-infecciosos e aqueles que atuam nos sistemas nervoso e cardiovascular.

Resumen Pacientes pediátricos, principalmente internados en unidades de terapia intensiva (UTI) neonatal, son altamente vulnerables a los errores de medicación. El objetivo de este estudio fue conocer la frecuencia de los errores de prescripción en una UTI neonatal de un hospital universitario así como, los pacientes susceptibles, los tipos de errores y los medicamentos involucrados. Las variables prescritas relacionadas a los medicamentos fueron comparadas con la base utilizada como referencia para la prescripción en la unidad (Neofax). Participaron en el estudio 150 recién nacidos. Se analizaron 489 prescripciones, 1.491 ítems de medicamentos, correspondiendo a 46 fármacos. La tasa de errores de prescripción fue de un 43,5%. Fueron encontrados errores de dosis, intervalo, diluyente y tiempo de infusión, distribuidos en 7 clases terapéuticas. La ocurrencia de errores fue mayor en recién nacidos prematuros. Los errores de diluyente y de dosis fueron los más frecuentes. Las clases de medicamentos más involucrados en los errores fueron los anti-infecciosos y aquellos que actúan en el sistema nervioso y cardiovascular.

Prescribing errors in a Brazilian neonatal intensive care unit.

Pediatric patients, especially those admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (ICU), are highly vulnerable to medication errors. This study aimed to measure the prescription error rate in a university hospital neonatal ICU and to identify susceptible patients, types of errors, and the medicines involved. The variables related to medicines prescribed were compared to the Neofax prescription protocol. The study enrolled 150 newborns and analyzed 489 prescription order forms, with 1,491 medication items, corresponding to 46 drugs. Prescription error rate was 43.5%. Errors were found in dosage, intervals, diluents, and infusion time, distributed across 7 therapeutic classes. Errors were more frequent in preterm newborns. Diluent and dosing were the most frequent sources of errors. The therapeutic classes most involved in errors were antimicrobial agents and drugs that act on the nervous and cardiovascular systems.

Difference between the prevalence of symptoms of depression and anxiety in non-diabetic smokers and in patients with type 2 diabetes with and without nicotine dependence.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with diabetes who are smokers have higher risks of cardiovascular disease, premature death, and microvascular complications. The present study aims to determine the prevalence of symptoms of depression and anxiety in smokers with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and to evaluate if the prevalence of symptoms of depression and anxiety differ between the three groups studied (patients with T2D who smoke; patients with T2D who do not smoke; smokers without T2D), and finally determine if the degree of nicotine dependence is related to symptoms of anxiety and depression in smokers (with or without T2D). METHODS: Three study groups were formed: 46 T2D smokers (DS), 46 T2D non-smokers (D), and 46 smokers without diabetes (S), totaling 138 participants. Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale and Fagerström Test were applied. RESULTS: The prevalence of symptoms of depression and anxiety in smokers with T2D was 30.4% and 50%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the proportion of individuals with symptoms of anxiety (p = 0.072) or depression (p = 0.657) in the DS group compared to group D or S. Among male patients with T2D, the smokers had a higher prevalence of anxiety symptoms (19.6%) than non-smokers (4,3%) (p = 0,025). The prevalence of high nicotine dependence among smokers with and without T2D was 39.1% and 37.1%, respectively (p = 0.999). Fagerström scores showed no significant correlation with the scores obtained on the subscale of anxiety (p = 0,735) or depression (p = 0,364). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of depression and anxiety among smokers with and without diabetes and non-smokers T2D is similar. Among male individuals with T2D, the smokers have more symptoms of anxiety than the non-smokers. There is no difference in the prevalence of nicotine dependence among smokers with and without diabetes. The presence of symptoms of anxiety or depression is similar between patients who are dependent and not dependent on nicotine.