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BMC Pediatrics Jul 2023This study aimed to identify the perceptions and attitudes of pediatricians and parents/caregivers regarding medication errors at home, and to compare the findings from...
PURPOSE
This study aimed to identify the perceptions and attitudes of pediatricians and parents/caregivers regarding medication errors at home, and to compare the findings from the two populations.
METHODS
This was a cross-sectional survey study. We designed a survey for working pediatricians and another one for parents or caregivers of children aged 14 years and younger. The survey's questions were designed to assess provider and parental opinions about the difficulty faced by parents providing medical treatment, specific questions on medication errors, and on a possible intervention program aimed at preventing pediatric medication errors. Pediatrician and parent responses to matching questions in both surveys were compared.
RESULTS
The surveys were administered in Spain from 2019 to 2021. In total, 182 pediatricians and 194 families took part. Most pediatricians (62.6%) and families (79.3%) considered that managing medical treatment was not among the main difficulties faced by parents in caring for their children. While 79.1% of pediatricians thought that parents consulted the internet to resolve doubts regarding the health of their children, most families (81.1%) said they consulted healthcare professionals. Lack of knowledge among parents and caregivers was one of the causes of medication errors most frequently mentioned by both pediatricians and parents. Most pediatricians (95.1%) said they would recommend a program designed to prevent errors at home.
CONCLUSIONS
Pediatricians and families think that medical treatment is not among the main difficulties faced by parents in caring for their children. Most pediatricians said they would recommend a medication error reporting and learning system designed for families of their patients to prevent medication errors that might occur in the home environment.
Topics: Child; Humans; Cross-Sectional Studies; Parents; Attitude of Health Personnel; Medication Errors; Pediatricians
PubMed: 37525101
DOI: 10.1186/s12887-023-04106-x -
Journal of Medical Toxicology :... Jul 2022
Topics: Humans; Medication Errors; Patient Safety; Social Justice
PubMed: 35578149
DOI: 10.1007/s13181-022-00897-0 -
PloS One 2015Medication error (ME) is a worldwide issue, but most studies on ME have been undertaken in developed countries and very little is known about ME in Southeast Asian... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Medication error (ME) is a worldwide issue, but most studies on ME have been undertaken in developed countries and very little is known about ME in Southeast Asian countries. This study aimed systematically to identify and review research done on ME in Southeast Asian countries in order to identify common types of ME and estimate its prevalence in this region.
METHODS
The literature relating to MEs in Southeast Asian countries was systematically reviewed in December 2014 by using; Embase, Medline, Pubmed, ProQuest Central and the CINAHL. Inclusion criteria were studies (in any languages) that investigated the incidence and the contributing factors of ME in patients of all ages.
RESULTS
The 17 included studies reported data from six of the eleven Southeast Asian countries: five studies in Singapore, four in Malaysia, three in Thailand, three in Vietnam, one in the Philippines and one in Indonesia. There was no data on MEs in Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Timor. Of the seventeen included studies, eleven measured administration errors, four focused on prescribing errors, three were done on preparation errors, three on dispensing errors and two on transcribing errors. There was only one study of reconciliation error. Three studies were interventional.
DISCUSSION
The most frequently reported types of administration error were incorrect time, omission error and incorrect dose. Staff shortages, and hence heavy workload for nurses, doctor/nurse distraction, and misinterpretation of the prescription/medication chart, were identified as contributing factors of ME. There is a serious lack of studies on this topic in this region which needs to be addressed if the issue of ME is to be fully understood and addressed.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Asia, Southeastern; Burnout, Professional; Child; Child, Preschool; Developing Countries; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Medication Errors; Prescription Drugs
PubMed: 26340679
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136545 -
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology Jun 20091. Medication errors should be amenable to epidemiological analysis, giving insights into the causes of error and the effects of interventions to prevent them or reduce... (Review)
Review
1. Medication errors should be amenable to epidemiological analysis, giving insights into the causes of error and the effects of interventions to prevent them or reduce harm from them. 2. There are formidable difficulties in establishing the rates of medication errors. 3. There is no agreement on a clear operational definition of the condition. 4. The methods used to enumerate cases so far have been unreliable or incomplete or both. 5. There is disagreement about whether cases of error that do not cause harm should be included in calculations of error rates. 6. When harm occurs in association with drug therapy, it is often unclear whether the harm might have been prevented, and its occurrence should therefore be considered to result from error. 7. The denominator for calculating the rate of error is both ill-defined and inconsistently measured. Better definitions, more complete evaluation, and more thorough impact assessment may improve matters.
Topics: Data Collection; Drug Prescriptions; Humans; Medication Errors; Medication Systems, Hospital
PubMed: 19594528
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.2009.03417.x -
Journal of Medical Systems Apr 2023Medication errors can have severe consequences and threaten patient safety. The patient safety-related benefits of automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs) have been...
Medication errors can have severe consequences and threaten patient safety. The patient safety-related benefits of automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs) have been reported by several previous studies, including a reduction in medication errors in intensive care units (ICUs) and emergency departments. However, the benefits of ADCs need to be assessed, given the different healthcare practice models. This study aimed to compare the rates of medication errors, including prescription, dispensing, and administrative, before and after using ADCs in intensive care units. The prescription, dispensing, and administrative error data before and after the adoption of ADCs were retrospectively collected from the medication error report system. The severity of medication errors was classified according to the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention guidelines. The study outcome was the rate of medication errors. After the adoption of ADCs in the intensive care units, the rates of prescription and dispensing errors reduced from 3.03 to 1.75 per 100,000 prescriptions and 3.87 to 0 per 100,000 dispensations, respectively. The administrative error rate decreased from 0.046 to 0.026%. The ADCs decreased National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention category B and D errors by 75% and category C errors by 43%. To improve medication safety, multidisciplinary collaboration and strategies, such as the use of automated dispensing cabinets, education, and training programs from a systems perspective, are warranted.
Topics: Humans; Medication Systems, Hospital; Retrospective Studies; Medication Errors; Intensive Care Units; Critical Care
PubMed: 37103718
DOI: 10.1007/s10916-023-01953-0 -
Medicine Aug 2022Medication errors, including overdose and underdose, have a significant impact on patients and the medical economy. We need to prevent or avoid recurring medication...
Medication errors, including overdose and underdose, have a significant impact on patients and the medical economy. We need to prevent or avoid recurring medication errors. Therefore, we conducted a survey to identify medication and prescription background risk factors contributing to the administration of medication by nurses. This study surveyed cases of medication administration errors. This study was conducted at Higashinagoya National Hospital from April 1, 2018, to October 31, 2019. Patients' backgrounds and medication and prescription background risk factors were investigated. Three control cases were randomly selected for each medication error case. We defined the group of medication error cases as the medication error group and the group of control cases as the no-medication-error group. A logistic regression analysis was performed for factors related to medication errors. A total of 202 patients were included in the medication error group. The median age and number of medications were 78 years and 7, respectively. A total of 606 cases were included in the no-medication-error group. The median age and number of medications were 77 years and 6, respectively. The factors that exhibited a relationship with the medication error group were the number of administrations per day, dosing frequency on indicated days, prescription and start dates were the same, medications from multiple prescriptions, and continuous use of a medication received prior to admission. This study identified existing medication and prescription background risk factors. Overlapping risk factors from these groups might contribute to medication administration errors. Therefore, reviewing these factors is necessary to avoid recurring medication administration errors.
Topics: Case-Control Studies; Drug Prescriptions; Hospitalization; Humans; Medication Errors; Risk Factors
PubMed: 35984141
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000030122 -
American Journal of Pharmaceutical... Jan 2023Health professions students must develop collaborative skills to disclose errors effectively and improve patient safety. We proposed that an interprofessional...
Health professions students must develop collaborative skills to disclose errors effectively and improve patient safety. We proposed that an interprofessional simulation using telehealth technology would provide medical and pharmacy students the opportunity to practice, develop, and grow in their confidence and skills of working collaboratively and disclosing medication errors. A three-phase interprofessional student simulation was developed. Phase 1 included individual student preparation. An interprofessional telehealth consultation encounter occurred in phase 2 for the error disclosure between the pharmacy and medical students. Phase 3 included faculty-led interprofessional debrief sessions. A pre- and postsimulation survey assessed students' experiences regarding their confidence in error disclosure, use of telehealth technology, and the role of the community pharmacist. Faculty evaluated pharmacy student performance using a 12-point rubric. Presimulation survey responses (n=173) were compared to postsimulation survey responses (n=140). Significant changes were seen for all students' confidence in error disclosure and use of telehealth technology. No significant change was noted in the students' understanding of the community pharmacists' role on the interprofessional team. Pharmacy student performance-based rubric data (n=148) revealed a median score of seven out of 12 for error disclosure and interprofessional communication items. Medical and pharmacy students perceived their confidence improved in interprofessional error disclosure and use of telehealth consultation technology through this interprofessional simulation. Pharmacy students' error disclosure and interprofessional communication skill development were assessed through this simulation.
Topics: Humans; Interprofessional Relations; Education, Pharmacy; Medication Errors; Students, Health Occupations; Truth Disclosure; Students, Pharmacy; Referral and Consultation; Telemedicine
PubMed: 35197254
DOI: 10.5688/ajpe8799 -
Nurse Education in Practice Jul 2023The aim of the study was to identify the reasons for medication administration errors, describe the barriers in their reporting and estimate the number of reported...
Reasons for medication administration errors, barriers to reporting them and the number of reported medication administration errors from the perspective of nurses: A cross-sectional survey.
UNLABELLED
The aim of the study was to identify the reasons for medication administration errors, describe the barriers in their reporting and estimate the number of reported medication administration errors.
BACKGROUND
Providing quality and safe healthcare is a key priority for all health systems. Medication administration error belongs to the more common mistakes committed in nursing practice. Prevention of medication administration errors must therefore be an integral part of nursing education.
DESIGN
A descriptive and cross-sectional design was used for this study.
METHODS
Sociological representative research was carried out using the standardized Medication Administration Error Survey. The research study involved 1205 nurses working in hospitals in the Czech Republic. Field surveys were carried out in September and October 2021. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's and Chi-square automatic interaction detection were used to analyze the data. The STROBE guideline was used.
RESULTS
Among the most frequent causes of medication administration errors belong name (4.1 ± 1.4) and packaging similarity between different drugs (3.7 ± 1.4), the substitution of brand drugs by cheaper generics (3.6 ± 1.5), frequent interruptions during the preparation and administration of drugs (3.6 ± 1.5) and illegible medical records (3.5 ± 1.5). Not all medication administration errors are reported by nurses. The reasons for non-reporting of such errors include fear of being blamed for a decline in patient health (3.5 ± 1.5), fear of negative feelings from patients or family towards the nurse or legal liability (3.5 ± 1.6) and repressive responses by hospital management (3.3 ± 1.5). Most nurses (two-thirds) stated that less than 20 % of medication administration errors were reported. Older nurses reported statistically significantly fewer medication administration errors concerning non-intravenous drugs than younger nurses (p < 0.001). At the same time, nurses with more clinical experience (≥ 21 years) give significantly lower estimates of medication administration errors than nurses with less clinical practice (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
Patient safety training should take place at all levels of nursing education. The standardized Medication Administration Error survey is useful for clinical practice managers. It allows for the identification of medication administration error causes and offers preventive and corrective measures that can be implemented. Measures to reduce medication administration errors include developing a non-punitive adverse event reporting system, introducing electronic prescriptions of medicines, involving clinical pharmacists in the pharmacotherapy process and providing nurses with regular comprehensive training.
Topics: Humans; Medication Errors; Risk Management; Cross-Sectional Studies; Nursing Staff, Hospital; Surveys and Questionnaires; Nurses
PubMed: 37094453
DOI: 10.1016/j.nepr.2023.103642 -
Drug Safety Jun 2020Little is known about the epidemiology of medication errors and medication-related harm following transition from secondary to primary care. This systematic review aims...
BACKGROUND
Little is known about the epidemiology of medication errors and medication-related harm following transition from secondary to primary care. This systematic review aims to identify and critically evaluate the available evidence on the prevalence and nature of medication errors and medication-related harm following hospital discharge.
METHODS
Studies published between January 1990 and March 2019 were searched across ten electronic databases and the grey literature. No restrictions were applied with publication language or patient population studied. Studies were included if they contained data concerning the rate of medication errors, unintentional medication discrepancies, or adverse drug events. Two authors independently extracted study data.
RESULTS
Fifty-four studies were included, most of which were rated as moderate (39/54) or high (7/54) quality. For adult patients, the median rate of medication errors and unintentional medication discrepancies following discharge was 53% [interquartile range 33-60.5] (n = 5 studies) and 50% [interquartile range 39-76] (n = 11), respectively. Five studies reported adverse drug reaction rates with a median of 27% [interquartile range 18-40.5] and seven studies reported adverse drug event rates with a median of 19% [interquartile range 16-24]. For paediatric patients, one study reported a medication error rate of 66.3% and another an adverse drug event rate of 9%. Almost a quarter of studies (13/54, 24%) utilised a follow-up period post-discharge of 1 month (range 2-180 days). Drug classes most commonly implicated with adverse drug events were antibiotics, antidiabetics, analgesics and cardiovascular drugs.
CONCLUSIONS
This is the first systematic review to explore the prevalence and nature of medication errors and adverse drug events following hospital discharge. Targets for future work have been identified.
Topics: Adult; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Humans; Medication Errors; Patient Discharge; Patient Transfer; Prevalence; Primary Health Care
PubMed: 32125666
DOI: 10.1007/s40264-020-00918-3 -
Scientific Reports Oct 2023Patient safety reporting systems give healthcare provider staff the ability to report medication related safety events and errors; however, many of these reports go...
Patient safety reporting systems give healthcare provider staff the ability to report medication related safety events and errors; however, many of these reports go unanalyzed and safety hazards go undetected. The objective of this study is to examine whether natural language processing can be used to better categorize medication related patient safety event reports. 3,861 medication related patient safety event reports that were previously annotated using a consolidated medication error taxonomy were used to develop three models using the following algorithms: (1) logistic regression, (2) elastic net, and (3) XGBoost. After development, models were tested, and model performance was analyzed. We found the XGBoost model performed best across all medication error categories. 'Wrong Drug', 'Wrong Dosage Form or Technique or Route', and 'Improper Dose/Dose Omission' categories performed best across the three models. In addition, we identified five words most closely associated with each medication error category and which medication error categories were most likely to co-occur. Machine learning techniques offer a semi-automated method for identifying specific medication error types from the free text of patient safety event reports. These algorithms have the potential to improve the categorization of medication related patient safety event reports which may lead to better identification of important medication safety patterns and trends.
Topics: Humans; Patient Safety; Medication Errors; Logistic Models; Data Mining; Research Report
PubMed: 37884577
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45152-w