Affiliations 

  • 1 Institute for Health Systems Research, Ministry of Health, 40170, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 2 Department of Clinical and Hospital Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Almadinah, Almunawwarah, 30001, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. noordin_uia@yahoo.com
  • 3 Kuliyyah of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Malaysia, 25200, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
  • 4 School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Gelugor, Penang, Malaysia
Int J Clin Pharm, 2020 Aug;42(4):1118-1127.
PMID: 32494990 DOI: 10.1007/s11096-020-01041-0

Abstract

Background Medication errors are the most common types of medical errors that occur in health care organisations; however, these errors are largely underreported. Objective This study assessed knowledge on medication error reporting, perceived barriers to reporting medication errors, motivations for reporting medication errors and medication error reporting practices among various health care practitioners working at primary care clinics. Setting This study was conducted in 27 primary care clinics in Malaysia. Methods A self-administered survey was distributed to family medicine specialists, doctors, pharmacists, pharmacist assistants, nurses and assistant medical officers. Main outcome measures Health care practitioners' knowledge, perceived barriers and motivations for reporting medication errors. Results Of all respondents (N = 376), nurses represented 31.9% (n = 120), followed by doctors (n = 87, 23.1%), pharmacists (n = 63, 16.8%), assistant medical officers (n = 53, 14.1%), pharmacist assistants (n = 46, 12.2%) and family medicine specialists (n = 7, 1.9%). Of the survey respondents who had experience reporting medication errors, 56% (n = 62) had submitted medication error reports in the preceding 12 months. Results showed that 41.2% (n = 155) of respondents were classified as having good knowledge on medication error and medication error reporting. The mean score of knowledge was significantly higher among prescribers and pharmacists than nurses, pharmacist assistants and assistant medical officers (p 

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.