Question

Mr. Fleming's prescription reads "instill 1 gtt ou qpm prn." According to ISMP, which abbreviation in this sig is most prone to causing an error?

a) "gtt"

b) "ou"

c) "qpm"

d) "prn"

Answer 1

The most error-prone abbreviation in the prescription sig "instill 1 gtt ou qpm prn" according to ISMP is 'ou', which stands for both eyes. It can be easily confused with similar looking abbreviations that have different meanings.

Step-by-step explanation:

The prescription sig "instill 1 gtt ou qpm prn" contains several abbreviations that are common in medical prescriptions. According to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), the most error-prone abbreviation in this prescription sig is "ou" which stands for both eyes. The abbreviation "ou" can be confused with "au" (each ear) and "ou" (each eye), which can lead to medication errors. Other abbreviations in the prescription are "gtt" for drop, "qpm" for every evening, and "prn" for as needed.