Patient View on Look-Alike, Sound-Alike (LASA) Medication Errors in a Saudi General Hospital: Responding, Experience and Contributing Factors
Abstract
Ahlam A Alsalameen, Ahmad M Alsuliman, Haidar H Alhashim, Ahmed M Alquraini, Hanan A Alshaikh, Murtadha S Alsulaiman, Sarah M Alsaleh, Anwar M Alethan and Ali S Alkhudair
Background: The use of look-alike, sound-alike (LASA) medication in the outpatient and in-home-care areas is an important patient-safety hazard.
Aims: Determine the level of patient’s awareness, experience, and contributing factors of the issue of LASA medication errors in one of the general hospitals in Saudi Arabia.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey comprised 148 outpatients in medical, dermatology, cardiology, and neurology clinics took place for a period of 3 months from May, to July 2024. Demographics, awareness, and experiences of LASA were evaluated with a structured questionnaire. The statistics were performed with chi-square test and Fisher exact test.
Results: The overall number of patients (n=148) included 64.2% women. The cohort included 50% participants with university education and or even higher. Twenty-four-point three percent (24.3%) indicated that they had been given the incorrect LASA medication at a time, most commonly as a result of either look-alike tablet/capsules (43.2 %) or packaging (40.5 %). Education level, type of clinic, and keeping every option of medication in one place were markedly linked to LASA experience (P was.048, .047, and.049, respectively).
Conclusions: Patients awareness about the risks of LASA medication was moderate. Errors might be prevented by clear labeling; education and the way things are stored. Adoption of pre-packaged multi-dose dispensing in combination with the targeted patient counseling also can contribute to an increased safety.