The role of purple pens in learning to prescribe.

Kinston R, McCarville N, Hassell A. Clin Teach. 2019 Jan 7; [Epub ahead of print].

Interventions utilizing color as visual cues have been used to reduce interruptions and medication missteps. This commentary describes how use of colored ink heightened awareness of prescriptions written by students at one acute care facility in the United Kingdom. The pilot program aimed to provide learners with frontline prescribing opportunities while enabling corrections by supervisors to enhance students' skill development and improve medication safety. Participants universally found the initiative to be a learning experience.

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