COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION OF MEDICATION ERRORS INCIDENCE AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Introduction: Monitoring and assessment of the medication errors in hospitals can help in reducing the medical treatment costs and minimizing the risk of harm to the patients. This study aims to determine the frequency and types of medication errors and to assess the consequences of the errors which occurred. Materials and Methods: A prospective, cross- sectional study was conducted in the ICU and medicine wards at a tertiary care hospital, India. The in-patient’s case sheets were reviewed on a daily basis, and were evaluated to find out any suspected medication errors. Results: During the study period of 6 months, 700 prescriptions were analysed for medication errors. Among them, 300 medication errors were identified, out of which (52.33%) were prescribing errors, (41.66%) were administration errors, (4.66%) were monitoring errors and (1.33%) were dispensing errors. Incomplete prescriptions (55.41%), documentation errors (43.2%), omission errors (19.2%) and wrong time administration of medicine (13.6%) were the common types of medication errors. Of the total errors (80.33%), had the potential to cause harm, (16.33%) caused no harm to patients but required monitoring, and (3.33%) errors caused temporary harm which required treatment. Conclusion: Although a small percentage of medication errors identified were harmful to patients, it is important to take measures to prevent or minimize the medication errors in the interest of patients. This can be achieved by including clinical pharmacist as a part of the health care team in the hospitals as well as educating the health care professionals especially the nurses regarding the administration errors.