Product factors can include confusion caused by similar packaging and similar names. Products with similar packaging, especially those which are different strengths of the same drug, should be clearly separated on dispensing shelves to avoid mis-picked products. Products with similar names can be misread.

When we read quickly, we can misinterpret product names. The brain does not read every letter of a word separately, but looks for the first and last letters and the pattern of the word. Drugs that can easily be confused (e.g. nifedipine and nicardipine) should regularly form part of training for all staff in the dispensary to help reduce errors in both labelling and picking.