Question

according to the institute for safe medication practices (ismp), which of the following abbreviations should a pharmacy technician recognize as error-prone?

mcg
qod
qid
daw

Explanation:

Identify the core question

The question asks to identify which of the listed abbreviations is recognized as error-prone by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP).

Evaluate the options using ISMP guidelines

Using the Error-Prone Abbreviations and ISMP Guidelines knowledge points:

• mcg: This is the recommended abbreviation for "microgram" to avoid confusion with "mg" (milligram). It is not considered error-prone.
• qod: This abbreviation stands for "every other day." The ISMP and the Joint Commission list "q.o.d." or "qod" as error-prone because the "o" can be misread as "i" (resulting in "q.i.d." or four times daily), leading to a potential eight-fold dosing error. The recommended practice is to write out "every other day."
• qid: This stands for "four times daily." While it requires careful reading, it is a standard abbreviation and is not on the official ISMP "Do Not Use" list of error-prone abbreviations in the same manner as "qod."
• daw: This stands for "Dispense as Written." It is a standard billing and legal instruction code, not classified as a clinical error-prone abbreviation on the ISMP list.

Select the correct option

Based on the analysis, "qod" is the abbreviation that must be avoided and is recognized as error-prone.

Answer:

• mcg
• qod (Correct answer)
• qid
• daw