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Table 2 Causes of clarification contacts, presented according to type of prescription, in three mail-order pharmacies over a three week period.

From: Assessment of ePrescription quality: an observational study at three mail-order pharmacies

 

All prescriptions

(N = 31225)

Refill prescriptions

(N = 16860)

New ePrescriptions

(N = 7532)

New non-electronic prescriptions

(N = 6833)

Relative risk

(95% CI)

Number of prescriptions necessitating a clarification contact

312

86

147

79

1.7 (1.3–2.2)

Total number of causes of clarification contacts

348

103

150

95

-

Causes

     

Incorrect or incomplete prescribing

     

Drug, strength, dosage form

45

10

15

20

0.5 (0.3–0.9)

Dosage and directions for use

73

21

48

4

7.6 (2.8–20.4)

Quantity or duration of therapy

21

5

8

8

0.6 (0.3–1.6)

Other

39

8

14

17

0.5 (0.3–1.0)

Prescriber, patient, or discount information

23

2

7

14

0.3 (0.1–0.8)

Interactions

     

Drug-drug

6

3

2

1

1.3 (0.1–13.8)

Other causes

     

Adverse effects, toxicity, illegible prescription, falsified prescription, patients' concerns, missing date, or other

44

16

17

11

1.0 (0.5–2.0)

Drug temporarily unavailable or withdrawn from the market

97

38

39

20

1.2 (0.8–2.0)