Carson, R W RJacob, PMcQuillan, R2011-04-052011-04-052009-09Towards safer use of opioids. 2009, 102 (8):257-9 Ir Med J0332-310219873867http://hdl.handle.net/10147/127234The main aim of our work was to improve the safety of opioid use in our institution, an acute generalhospital with 620 beds. Initially, all reported opioid errors from 2001 - 2006 were audited. The findings directed a range of multidisciplinary staff educational inputs to improve opioid prescribing and administration practice, and encourage drug error reporting. 448 drug errors were reported, of which 54 (12%) involved opioids; of these, 43 (79%) involved codeine, morphine or oxycodone. 31 of the errors (57%) were associated with administration, followed by 12 (22%) with dispensing and 11 (20%) with prescribing. There were 2 reports of definite patient harm. A subsequent audit examined a 17-month period following the introduction of the above teaching: 17 errors were noted, of which 14 (83%) involved codeine, morphine or oxycodone. Again, drug administration was most error-prone, comprising 11 (65%) of reports. However, just 2 (12%) of the reported errors now involved prescribing, which was a reduction.enAnalgesics, OpioidDrug ToxicityHumansMedication ErrorsMedication Systems, HospitalPainPalliative CarePatient CarePhysician's Practice PatternsRetrospective StudiesArticleIrish medical journal