PSI Patient Safety 2

Question 1

What is a medication error and how should it be managed in a pharmacy?

Accepted Answer

Any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm; it should be documented, reported, the patient assessed, and a root cause analysis conducted

Answer

An error only counts if the patient is harmed

Answer

Medication errors should be hidden to protect the pharmacy's reputation

Answer

Only dispensing the wrong drug counts as a medication error

Question 2

What is the pharmacist's role in pharmacovigilance?

Accepted Answer

To monitor the safety of medicines in everyday use, detect new or changing safety signals, report adverse events, and contribute to the ongoing assessment of medicine benefit-risk profiles

Answer

Pharmacovigilance is only the manufacturer's responsibility

Answer

It only applies during clinical trials

Answer

Pharmacists have no role in pharmacovigilance

Question 3

What should a pharmacist do if they identify a drug recall notice?

Accepted Answer

Immediately quarantine the affected stock, check dispensing records for patients who received the recalled product, notify affected patients and their prescribers, and arrange returns

Answer

Wait until the stock runs out

Answer

Only act if a patient complains

Answer

Continue dispensing the product until a replacement is available

Question 4

What is the importance of medication reconciliation when a patient is discharged from hospital?

Accepted Answer

To ensure continuity of care by comparing the discharge prescription with the patient's pre-admission medications, identifying any intentional changes, and preventing unintended omissions or duplications

Answer

Medication reconciliation is only needed on admission

Answer

It is the hospital's sole responsibility

Answer

The community pharmacist has no role in discharge reconciliation

Question 5

What measures should a pharmacy implement to prevent dispensing errors?

Accepted Answer

Separate LASA products, use barcode scanning, implement independent double-checking, maintain adequate staffing, reduce interruptions during dispensing, and report all near misses

Answer

Speed up dispensing to reduce waiting times

Answer

Remove all safety checks to improve efficiency

Answer

Only rely on the pharmacist's memory and experience

Question 6

What is the pharmacist's responsibility regarding cold chain management for medicines requiring refrigeration?

Accepted Answer

To maintain the cold chain (2-8°C) throughout storage and supply, monitor and record temperatures daily, investigate any breaches, and not supply medicines that have been compromised

Answer

Only the wholesaler is responsible for cold chain

Answer

Temperature monitoring is optional

Answer

Medicines can be returned to the fridge after being left out overnight