Journal of medical education
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Prescription-writing is an important aspect of medical practice. Illegible and/or incorrect prescriptions can result in loss of patient, physician, and pharmacist time and may cause therapeutic errors or drug toxicity. ⋯ Deficient prescription-writing techniques and weakness in the therapeutic knowledge of beginning pediatric interns were identified. The data indicate that proper prescription-writing (especially the use of controlled substances) should be taught to house officers and that the therapeutic knowledge of beginning pediatric interns cannot be assumed to be adequate.