Abstract

A cross-sectional survey was designed to study look-alike, sound-alike (LASA) drugs in hospitals in Thailand. The questionnaires were developed and mailed to 1,380 hospitals throughout Thailand. The return rate was 11.16% or 154 hospitals, consisting of 5 tertiary hospitals (3.25%), 3 university hospitals (1.95%), 16 secondary hospitals (10.39%), 96 primary hospitals (62.34%), 26 private hospitals (16.88%) and 8 others (5.20%). A total of 5,327 pairs of drugs were identified as LASA drugs, including 3,695 tablets/capsules (Ranitidine-Roxithromycin pair in the highest frequency), 944 injections (Diazepam-Furosemide pair in the highest frequency), 307 liquid dosage forms (Alum milk-Milk of magnesia pair in the highest frequency), 367 external drugs (0.02% Triamcinolone cream and 0.1% Triamcinolone cream pair in the highest frequency) and 14 pairs of chemotherapeutic agents. This LASA report could be integrated into a suitable program used in hospitals in order to identify and prevent medication errors in the future.

Key words: Look-alike, sound-alike, look-alike, sound-alike (LASA), hospital, Thailand.