OBJECTIVES To determine the prevalence of prescription errors( both inappropriate prescribing and prescribing omissions ) in hospitalized geriatric population and detect the association between prescribing errors and factors such as age, gender, number of medications, co-morbid conditions and length of stay in hospital.

METHODS : The study was a retrospective observational study conducted on 250 elderly patients of either gender ( ≥65 years) admitted to medicine ward during Nov 2014-May 2015. The patients’ data including demographics, history, diagnosis, laboratory tests and details of drug therapy during the period of hospitalization were recorded in a structured format using a case record form. The data was assessed for presence of inappropriate prescriptions according to the STOPP/START tool for detection of prescription errors. The association between prescription errors and contributing factors was studied using Chi-Square test of statistical analysis.

RESULTS : A prevalence of 6.4% ( 16 instances in 250 patients)of inappropriate prescriptions and 9.2% (23 instances in 250 patients) of that of prescription omissions was detected in our study. The study revealed a significant association between presence of co-morbid conditions and occurrence of prescribing omissions as well as total number of medications prescribed with prescribing omissions in the elderly. Demographic factors and length of stay in the hospital did not show an association with inappropriate prescribing/omissions.

CONCLUSIONS : Repeated sensitization and education of physicians in geriatric prescribing may contribute to lower prevalence of prescribing errors. Patients with higher co-morbid index and those on multiple drugs are at higher risk of medication errors and physicians should be more cautious while prescribing to such population.