J. Pharm. Pharmacogn. Res., vol. 13, no. 6, pp. 1919-1931, Nov-Dec 2025.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56499/jppres24.2283_13.6.1919

Original Article

Prevalence and contributing factors of dispensing errors in community pharmacies

[Prevalencia y factores contribuyentes a los errores de dispensación en farmacias comunitarias]

Anan S. Jarab¹, Walid Al-Qerem², Karem H. Alzoubi^3,4, Shrouq R. Abu Heshmeh¹, Joud Al-Momani⁵, Tareq Mukattash¹, Yazid N. Al Hamarneh⁶, Yousef Mimi⁷, Maher Khdour^8*

¹Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology. Irbid, 22110, Jordan.

²Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan. P.O. Box 130, Amman, 11733, Jordan.

³Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

⁴Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.

⁵Faculty of Pharmacy, Yarmouk University, Irbid, 21163, Jordan.

⁶Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.

⁷Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Graduate Studies, Arab American University, Jenin, Palestine.

⁸College of Pharmacy, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.

*E-mail: mkhdour@staff.alquds.edu

Abstract

Context: Dispensing errors pose a significant risk to patient safety and remain a primary concern in the practice of pharmacy.

Aims: To assess the prevalence of dispensing errors and identify associated factors among community pharmacists in Jordan.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 202 community pharmacists using a validated questionnaire. The sample size was based on Green’s rule (n = 50 + 8*12 predictors). Quantile regression was employed to examine predictors of error frequency.

Results: Common contributing factors included similar medication names (61.4%), unreadable prescriptions (67.3%), and incomplete prescriptions (66.3%). Higher error frequencies were observed among employee pharmacists (β = 2.333; p = 0.007) and male pharmacists (β = -1.667; p = 0.01).

Conclusions: Dispensing errors remain prevalent. Employment status and gender were significantly associated with error frequency. Targeted interventions and policy reforms are recommended to reduce errors and improve patient safety.

Keywords: community pharmacist; dispensing error; frequency; prescription: Jordan.

Resumen

Contexto: Los errores de dispensación suponen un riesgo significativo para la seguridad del paciente y siguen siendo una preocupación fundamental en la práctica farmacéutica.

Objetivos: Evaluar la prevalencia de errores de dispensación e identificar los factores asociados entre los farmacéuticos comunitarios de Jordania.

Métodos: Se realizó un estudio transversal con 202 farmacéuticos comunitarios mediante un cuestionario validado. El tamaño de la muestra se basó en la regla de Green (n = 50 + 8*12 predictores). Se empleó una regresión cuantil para examinar los predictores de la frecuencia de errores.

Resultados: Los factores contribuyentes comunes incluyeron nombres de medicamentos similares (61,4%), recetas ilegibles (67,3%) y recetas incompletas (66,3%). Se observaron mayores frecuencias de errores entre los farmacéuticos empleados (β = 2,333; p = 0,007) y los farmacéuticos varones (β = -1,667; p = 0,01).

Conclusiones: Los errores de dispensación siguen siendo prevalentes. La situación laboral y el género se asociaron significativamente con la frecuencia de errores. Se recomiendan intervenciones específicas y reformas políticas para reducir los errores y mejorar la seguridad del paciente.

Palabras Clave: error de dispensación; farmacéutico comunitario; frecuencia; prescripción; Jordania.

 

https://jppres.com/jppres/pdf/vol13/jppres24.2283_13.6.1919.pdf

 

 

Citation Format: Jarab AS, Al-Qerem W, Alzoubi KH, Heshmeh SRA, Al-Momani J, Mukattash T, Al Hamarneh YN, Mimi Y, Khdour M (2025) Prevalence and contributing factors of dispensing errors in community pharmacies. J Pharm Pharmacogn Res 13(6): 1919–1931. https://doi.org/10.56499/jppres24.2283_13.6.1919

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