About 80 percent of dispensing errors are due to cognitive problems linked to work disruptions, according to 429 pharmacists surveyed. The survey was done by Sheryl Szeinbach, a professor of pharmacy practice and administration at Ohio State University.
The survey results are published in the International Journal for Quality in Health Care.
"The drive-through window, overall, poses a huge problem with respect to causing dispensing errors, contributing to communication errors, delaying processing and forcing staff to take more steps," Szeinbach said in a statement.
The pharmacists surveyed worked at pharmacies located within mass retailers, chain drugstores and independently owned shops.
Automated dispensing systems in pharmacies are also likely to reduce the potential for errors and enhance efficiency, the university website reports.
Szeinbach recommends that consumers check prescription medications before leaving a pharmacy drive-through window.
