Relationship between work setting and the occurrence of medication errors among nurses of Assiut University Hospital

الملخص EN

Introduction: Medication errors and adverse drug events are believed to occur at a disturbing rate.

It is estimated that a large number of mortality occurs all over the world every year from these incidents.

The nurse plays a key role in medication administration in the hospital setting.

Aim: investigating the relationship between the work site and the occurrence of medication errors through assessment of transcription phase of the prescribed treatment, storage, preparation, administration, and documentation phases.

Subjects and methods: The study was conducted at Assiut University Hospital at all general medical and surgical units and medical and surgical intensive care units.

The sample included 200 nurses with no less than one year experience.

Data collection was done through a chart review purposed to assess nurses medication errors within each phase 0f drug administration.

An observation checklist was also used to assess nurses' performance during administration of medication, and during the storage process.

Results: Chart reviewing indicated the absence of a well-defined documentation system Nurses at the selected units had poor skills in the medication administration process.

This was particularly obvious in establishing patient's safety, comfort, and with the drug therapeutic effect.

The medication administration errors were different from one department to another, and were not affected by the nurses' age, years of experience, or by nurses' educational qualifications.

Meanwhile, the medication administration errors were highly affected by job position.

Concerning storage process of drugs, the errors were lowest in the surgical intensive care unit.

Nurses established a good storage process of drugs more than other nurses.

The errors in storage had a statistically significant relationship with the nurses' age, years of experience, and educational qualifications.

Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it is recommended to adopt systems-oriented approach to medication errors reduction.

Additionally, there is a need to promote the use of medication errors records, and medication administration records.

A non-punitive atmosphere for reporting of errors should be provided.