Introduction Dispensing errors are among the most common medical errors. Previous studies found that environmental factors, educational training, physical and mental health were factors affecting dispensing errors among pharmacists. However, the associations among burnout, sleep quality and dispensing error in pharmacists are still unknown.

Objectives The aims of this study were to investigate the frequency of dispensing errors among the hospital pharmacists in Taiwan and to determine the risk factors associated with it.

Methods This was a cross-sectional study. The electronic questionnaires were sent to the pharmacists from multiple centers. The questionnaire included demographic characteristics, the frequencies of dispensing errors in the past three months, environmental factors, Chinese version of Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, Chinese version of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and continuing education questions. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between environmental factors, burnout, sleep quality, continuing education and dispensing errors.

Results A total of 370 pharmacists completed the questionnaire. Among them, 96.5% reported dispensing errors in the past three months. In the univariate logistic analysis, pharmacists experienced dispensing errors were more likely to have shorter working years (Odds Ratio (OR)= 0.91, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) : 0.85–0.98), shift work (OR= 4.75, 95%CI : 1.51–14.89), shorter working hour per day (OR= 0.80, 95% CI: 0.64–0.99), lower personal burnout score (OR= 0.97, 95% CI: 0.94–0.99) and lower over-commitment score (OR= 0.96, 95% CI: 0.94–0.99) compared with those without dispensing errors. The multivariate logistic regression model indicated that after adjusting for all possible risk factors, shorter working years (adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR)= 0.92, 95% CI: 0.85–0.99) and shift work (aOR= 4.63, 95% CI: 1.39–15.45) was associated with dispensing errors among pharmacists.

Conclusion A significant proportion of pharmacists experienced dispensing errors. Development of stress management programs to enhance pharmacists’ physical and psychological well-being and to improve job performance is warranted.