OBJECTIVES: To track, assess, and describe prescription errors at Cardiovascular Clinics in King Faisal Medical Complex, Taif, Saudi Arabia (March 2016 - September 2017).

METHODS: A retrospective observational study with an exploratory and evaluative study design was applied. The study sample consisted of simple random samples (5% of the total number of prescriptions) as well as all prescription errors that were caught, documented, and reported before reach to patients (March 2016 - September 2017). Descriptive analysis was performed to describe prescription error categories. Level of significance was set at 0.05. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to compare the numbers of prescription error during the study period.

RESULTS: A total number of combined 19-months (March 2016 through September 2017) prescription errors was 2005. The highest number of combined 19-months prescription errors was for Unapproved Abbreviation (n=652), followed by Wrong Duration (n=490), Wrong Route (n=452), and Missed Diagnosis (n=296). Four types of prescription error (Unapproved Abbreviation, Wrong Duration, Wrong Route, and Missed Diagnosis represented 94.26% of the total combined 19-months prescription errors. There was no Wrong Drug prescription error during the study period. Comparing the prescription error types during the study period, there was no statistically significant difference between prescription error numbers.

CONCLUSIONS: Unapproved Abbreviation was the highest prescription errors followed by Wrong Duration and Wrong Route. Future research that involves many hospitals needs to be done.