Single Center Look Alike and Sound Alike Medication Experience
Abstract
Ahlam A. Al Salameen
Errors in treatment due to similar Look-alike Sound-alike (LASA) medications are increasing worldwide. Distinct medication shares similar characteristics including shape, spelling, phonetics, and packaging. Determination of patient’s experiences on LASA medication may be a significant factor to improve safety and reduce the chances of negative complications. Therefore, the current study aims to assess the experience and correlation between descriptive characteristics of the patients on LASA medications. A descriptive study based on validated questionnaire was conducted at Prince Saud Bin Jalawi hospital. A total of 148 Patients participated, who visited the hospital for follow up check up in Medical, Dermatology, Cardiology and Neurology clinics from May 2024 to July 2024. The questionnaire was filled by particpants: age range from 18 to ≥50 year with mean 35.4 ± 11.9 year. Gender distribution was 95 females (64%) and male 53 (35.8) with male to female ratio 1:1.7. Looking to job of patient we have 16% student, 16% Health care worker, 3% nonspecific and 8 % retired. From education level 23% primary level ,26% secondary level, and 60 % has university education. In conclusion, the current study showed that one out of each four patients had medication error due to LASA for 1-5 times. Look-alike tablets or caps and packaging look alike were the most repeated factors behind the error where the study discovered that some patients reported side effects after committing LASA errors. The current suggests that the pharmacist should educate and explanin the medication properly to patient, which will reduce the LASA errors and associated side effects.