Analysis of drug dispensing by risk management method at three teaching hospitals in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire

Introduction: In hospitals, an optimum drug dispensing (DD) is involved in the quality of health services and the prevention of medication errors. This study aims to describe the features of hospital DD in Cote d’Ivoire in order to suggest improvements. Methodology: The site visit (risk management method) was conducted at hospital pharmacies (HP) of the three teaching hospitals in Abidjan. A self-administered questionnaire was submitted to pharmacists, pharmacy assistants and pharmacy technicians. Another form served as support for observation during DD. Results: The delivery of drugs was the most current act performed during DD among both pharmacists (38.04%) and other actors (58.89%). The prescription review was confirmed by 30.44% of pharmacists. Pharmacists spent more time in activities of “supply, orders, inventory, receiving, storage"(15.38%) than in prescription review (13.68%) and information about drugs (11.97%). The main medication orders collected were carbon multi-sheet medication orders of teaching hospitals (71.37%). 5.24% of prescription supports were analyzed by pharmacists.2.62% of medication orders included the 6 safety criteria of prescription per line. Conclusion: DD at the visited teaching hospitals should be optimized for greater safety of patients. Clinical pharmacy activities could help improve its quality.