E-Thesis 332 views
Linguistic Latent Conditions in International Nonproprietary Names of Medicines: Linguistic Drivers of Look-Alike Sound-Alike Errors and Implications in Russian and Italian Drug Nomenclatures / RACHEL BRYAN
Swansea University Author: RACHEL BRYAN
DOI (Published version): 10.23889/SUthesis.69508
Abstract
This thesis has set out to identify linguistic latent conditions in international drug names. To achieve this aim, three research questions (RQ) are asked: RQ1, How can the International Nonproprietary Name (INN) nomenclature be characterised in linguistic terms?; RQ2, To what extent are any of the...
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Swansea, Wales, UK
2025
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| Institution: | Swansea University |
| Degree level: | Doctoral |
| Degree name: | Ph.D |
| Supervisor: | Donzelli, Giovanna ; Bodger, Owen |
| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa69508 |
| Abstract: |
This thesis has set out to identify linguistic latent conditions in international drug names. To achieve this aim, three research questions (RQ) are asked: RQ1, How can the International Nonproprietary Name (INN) nomenclature be characterised in linguistic terms?; RQ2, To what extent are any of the linguistic features described in answer to RQ1 associated with the occurrence of Look-Alike Sound-Alike (LASA) error?; and RQ3, How can Russian-language and Italian-language pharmaceutical nomenclature be characterised in linguistic terms, and what are the implications of findings from RQ2 for these languages? LASA errors are a type of medication error between similar drug names and constitute a significant threat to patient safety, e.g. hydralazine and hydroxyzine. They are highlighted in the World Health Organization’s 2017 global patient safety challenge Medication without harm. The thesis frames linguistic features that increase the risk of LASA errors as a type of latent condition in the healthcare system that creates ‘accident opportunities’, under Reason’s human error theory. Three shortcomings in the literature are addressed: morphosemantic features of drug nomenclature (most studies look at formal features such as name length), linguistic properties of generic names (most look at brand names), and drug nomenclature in languages other than English. One linguistic latent condition is identified - initial trigram frequency – which leads to a suggestion for manufacturers and regulators to consider encouraging diversity in the beginning strings of names. Several other linguistic variables show potential associations with LASA error that merit further research but fall short of sufficient empirical evidence to make a policy recommendation. Two non-linguistic confounders are identified that significantly drive risk: prescribing frequency and year of approval. Analyses are complemented by two case studies of Russian-language INNs and Italian Common Names. |
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| Item Description: |
ORCiD identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8617-3882 |
| Keywords: |
Linguistics, medication names, pharmacy, pharmacology, terminology, Russian, Italian, translation, patient safety |
| College: |
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences |