JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Medication safety remains a significant challenge in healthcare, particularly for patients managing complex treatment regimens. In Norway, the introduction of the electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) for multidose drug dispensing aims to improve medication adherence and minimize errors by seamlessly integrating with the national e-prescription infrastructure.

Objective:

This study aimed to investigate the challenges faced by general practitioners and pharmacists in using e-prescribing for multidose drug dispensing in Norway. Additionally, it sought to gather their recommendations for system improvements to guide future development and nationwide implementation.

Methods:

A parallel mixed methods design was used, integrating both quantitative and qualitative data. A structured online survey was distributed to 54 pharmacies and 190 General Practitioner (GP) surgeries across Norway. The survey included a combination of multiple-choice and open-ended questions. Qualitative responses were analyzed thematically using NVivo, while quantitative data were processed using the built-in analytical tools in Nettskjema.no.

Results:

A total of seventy healthcare professionals participated in the study, revealing seven key themes: training, system and technology, communication and interaction, division of responsibilities, patient safety, time and resource use, and implementation challenges. General Practitioners reported inadequate training and an overwhelming volume of communication, while pharmacists identified issues with system integration and unclear role definitions. Both groups emphasized the need for improved system usability, stronger interprofessional collaboration, and more defined governance structure.

Conclusions:

While the e-prescribing for multidose drug dispensing system has the potential to improve medication safety and optimized workflows, its success depends on addressing technical inefficiencies, improving user training, and clarifying role responsibilities. Actively involving end users in system development and policy planning is critical for achieving effective national implementation and ensuring integration with broader e-health initiatives, such as the Patient’s Medication List.