Question

question 102

a pharmacy technician should identify that which of the following strategies best helps prevent medication errors related to look-alike drug packaging?

• segregating look-alike medications and using auxiliary labels to differentiate them
• placing look-alike medications on the same shelf for easy comparison
• only stocking one strength of each medication
• storing medications alphabetically only

Explanation:

Analyze the question and options

Using the Look-Alike/Sound-Alike Drugs knowledge point

• Question: Identify the best strategy to prevent medication errors related to look-alike drug packaging.
• Option 1: Segregating look-alike medications and using auxiliary labels to differentiate them.
• Option 2: Placing look-alike medications on the same shelf for easy comparison.
• Option 3: Only stocking one strength of each medication.
• Option 4: Storing medications alphabetically only.

Evaluate each strategy

Using the Look-Alike/Sound-Alike Drugs knowledge point

• Segregation and auxiliary labels: Physically separating look-alike items on shelves and applying warning labels (like Tall Man lettering or bright color alerts) directly reduces selection errors.
• Placing on the same shelf: This increases the risk of a technician grabbing the wrong bottle by accident due to visual similarity.
• Stocking one strength: This is clinically impossible and unsafe, as patients require different therapeutic doses.
• Alphabetical storage only: This often places look-alike/sound-alike (LASA) drugs right next to each other, increasing selection errors.

Determine the correct choice

Using the Look-Alike/Sound-Alike Drugs knowledge point

• The most effective and standard pharmacy practice is to segregate these medications and use visual alerts/auxiliary labels to highlight differences.

Answer:

• (A) Segregating look-alike medications and using auxiliary labels to differentiate them (Correct answer)
• (B) Placing look-alike medications on the same shelf for easy comparison
• (C) Only stocking one strength of each medication
• (D) Storing medications alphabetically only