Medication Errors and Adverse Drug Events (ADEs) in Ambulatory Pediatrics

Pediatric ALL Clinical Trial

Official title: Ambulatory Medication Errors and Adverse Drug Events (ADEs) in Pediatrics

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine the rates of medication errors in pediatric outpatients in 6 office practices. Further, we wish to determine the effectiveness of a computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system in reducing errors.

Clinical Trial Description

This study has the following 2 goals:

Aim 1: To determine the rates, types, and predictors of medication errors and ADEs.

Aim 2: To perform a trial assessing the effectiveness of an intervention (CPOE) on reducing serious medication errors.

We hypothesize that:

1. Medication errors and ADEs are frequent in ambulatory pediatrics.

2. Presence of the following predictors will be associated with higher error rates:

cultural, racial, socioeconomic, educational, and linguistic barriers to communication, understanding, and successful completion of prescribed therapies; complex medical or chronic medical conditions; complex medication regimens; non-physician providers with limited clinical experience; high provider workloads; and complex prescription refill systems.

3. Prevention strategies, including both technology-based and behavioral/ human factors-based interventions, will be effective and cost-effective in reducing rates of serious medication errors (defined as preventable ADEs and non-intercepted potential ADEs). ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions
• Pediatric ALL

• NCT number: NCT00229671
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Weill Medical College of Cornell University
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: September 2001
• Completion date: July 2005