Prescribing and Transcribing Problems in Electronic Pediatric Compounded Prescriptions: A Descriptive Study in Outpatient and Inpatient Services at Hospital X
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36733/medicamento.v12i2.14848Keywords:
electronic prescribing, pediatric compounded prescriptions, prescribing problems, prescription information, transcribing problemsAbstract
Background: Accurate prescription information supports safe review and preparation of pediatric compounded medicines, particularly during transfer between prescribing and pharmacy systems.
Objective: This study aimed to describe the profile of electronic pediatric compounded prescriptions and descriptively compare the proportions and distributions of identified prescribing and transcribing problems between outpatient and inpatient services at Hospital X.
Methods: A descriptive, retrospective observational study was conducted using pediatric compounded prescriptions recorded in e-Calyptus from January to December 2025. Using purposive sampling, 488 prescriptions were included (216 outpatient, 272 inpatient). Prescribing problems were assessed using predefined administrative, pharmaceutical, and specified clinical prescription-review criteria. Transcribing problems were identified by comparing e-Calyptus records with corresponding Buana entries; only problems newly introduced during information transfer were counted.
Results: Most prescriptions involved children aged five years or younger, contained a single medication item, and were prepared as divided powders. At least one prescribing problem was identified in 99.54% of outpatient and 69.12% of inpatient prescriptions. Newly introduced transcribing problems occurred in 37.50% and 25.00%, respectively. Multiple concurrent prescribing problems per prescription were more frequent in outpatient care. Prescribing problems most often involved missing dosage form and route of administration, while transcribing problems mainly involved dose information, dosing instructions, and dosage form.
Conclusion: Pediatric compounded prescription records show documented problems in source prescriptions and during subsequent information transfer. Differences between outpatient and inpatient services are descriptive and do not establish causal effects of care setting. These findings support improving prescription completeness, cross-system information consistency, and systematic prescription verification.
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