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Introduction: The introduction of electronic prescription services has been a significant development in healthcare systems worldwide. In Saudi Arabia, the Wasfaty electronic prescription service was recently introduced, aiming to streamline prescription transfer and medicine collection.Aim: This study assesses the implementation of Wasfaty by investigating prescription transfer, patient satisfaction, and medicine availability among beneficiaries at the University of Jeddah.Methods: A cross-sectional online questionnaire was distributed to students and staff at the University of Jeddah who had received e-prescriptions from the University Medical Centre (n = 2067) in July-December 2022. The questionnaire consisted of three sections: demographics, patient perceptions and satisfaction with the Wasfaty service, and the availability of prescribed medicines. A total of 217 completed questionnaires were received and analyzed.Results: Among the respondents, a majority were female (n = 125, 57.6%). A significant proportion of participants expressed satisfaction with the initial registration process of the Wasfaty service (n = 183, 84.1%). However, a noteworthy finding was that nearly one-third of the participants reported difficulties in locating their prescribed medicines (n = 64, 29.7%). Consequently, a majority of these individuals had to seek alternative pharmacies to obtain their prescribed treatment (n = 138, 63.9%). Of concern were reports of limited access to specific pharmaceuticals, such as anti-hypertensives and antidiabetic medications, which elicited dissatisfaction among respondents.Conclusion: This study sheds light on the challenges associated with the implementation of the Wasfaty electronic prescription service in Saudi Arabia. While initial registration satisfaction is notable, the study highlights issues concerning medicine availability and access to essential pharmaceuticals. Addressing these challenges requires the attention of service providers, and further investigation on a national scale is warranted to better understand and address these issues effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What is already known about this subject • In the UK prescribing-related errors are common. • Poor prescribing and prescribing errors result in significant patient morbidity and mortality. • In hospital, junior doctors are responsible for a significant number of prescribing errors. What this study adds • Only 8% of foundation year (FY) 1 doctors rate their knowledge of clinical pharmacology as good and 30% as poor or worse. • The majority of FY1 doctors reported themselves confident to prescribe medicines associated with high levels of patient morbidity and mortality. • Potentially avoidable adverse drug reactions and drug interactions were reported by 60–75% of FY1 doctors, many of which were reported to have been avoidable with more extensive undergraduate training. • FY1 doctors would like more focused undergraduate teaching on the avoidance of adverse drug reactions and drug–drug interactions, together with increased clinical pharmacology and therapeutics in their postgraduate training programme. Aims To determine whether, in retrospect, first year foundation (FY1) programme doctors believe that their undergraduate education in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (CPT) has prepared them to prescribe safely and rationally. Methods This was a prospective questionnaire survey. Ninety FY1 doctors, employed in the Aberdeen Teaching Hospitals, participated. Results Seventy-one percent of FY1 doctors completed the survey. Thirty percent of respondents rated their knowledge of CPT as poor or worse and only 8% as good; 74% reported having witnessed an adverse drug reaction (ADR) and 55% a drug–drug interaction, a number of which had resulted in patient morbidity or mortality. Many of these events were reported to have been avoidable or predictable with more extensive undergraduate and postgraduate training. Forty-two percent of respondents stated that they had not been taught enough about avoiding ADRs and 60% about avoiding drug–drug interactions during their undergraduate years. Over 75% of respondents reported high levels of confidence for the unsupervised use of warfarin, nonsteroidal analgesics and opiate analgesics. In retrospect, FY1 doctors would like more undergraduate teaching in prescribing for special patient groups, ADRs, drug interactions, together with CPT in their postgraduate teaching programme. Conclusions FY1 doctors believe that their undergraduate and postgraduate training in CPT is insufficient to prescribe safely and rationally. This study adds further weight to the call for an increase in the training of junior doctors in the rational and safe use of medicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]