Community pharmacists’ involvement in ensuring patient safety

Abstract Burden of injuries to patients from adverse events is one of the top 10 causes of death and disability in the world; medication errors are a leading cause of injury. Most adverse events can be avoided. The objective of this work was to study involvement of community pharmacy professionals in ensuring patient safety in Armenia. Community pharmacists and technicians from all the regions of Armenia were asked to complete previously designed questionnaire. 353 professionals completed self-administered questionnaire. Data were analysed with SPSS statistical software, version 22.0. 87.8% of respondents reported that they observe prescribing errors when evaluating prescription at pharmacy. 69.4% of them indicate that the main error is wrong dose; 32.3% pointed medicines interactions; 32.0% - contraindications. Number of professionals from Yerevan, who indicated wrong dose, is higher than number of those from other regions (p