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  1. Ab Rahman AF
    Bull World Health Organ, 2019 Nov 01;97(11):730.
    PMID: 31673185 DOI: 10.2471/BLT.19.245019
    Matched MeSH terms: Medication Errors/statistics & numerical data*
  2. Shitu Z, Aung MMT, Tuan Kamauzaman TH, Ab Rahman AF
    BMC Health Serv Res, 2020 Jan 22;20(1):56.
    PMID: 31969138 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-020-4921-4
    BACKGROUND: Medication use process in the emergency department (ED) can be challenging and the risk for medication error (ME) to occur is high. In Malaysia, several studies on ME have been conducted in various hospital settings. However, little is known about the prevalence of ME in emergency department (ED) in these hospitals. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of ME at an ED of a teaching hospital in Malaysia.

    METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted over the period of 9 weeks in patients who visited the ED of Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), Kelantan, Malaysia. Data on patient medication orders and demographic information was collected from the doctor's clerking sheet. Observations were made on nursing activities and these were documented in the data collection form. Other information related to the administration of medications were obtained from the nursing care records.

    RESULTS: Observations and data collections were made for 547 patients who fulfilled the study criteria. From these, 311 patient data were randomly selected for analysis. Ninety-five patients had at least one ME. The prevalence of ME was calculated to be 30.5%. The most common types of ME were wrong time error (46.9%), unauthorized drug error (25.4%), omission error (18.5%) and dose error (9.2%). The most frequently drug associated with ME was analgesics. No adverse event was observed.

    CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of ME in our ED setting was moderately high. However, the majority of them did not result in any adverse event. Intervention measures are needed to prevent further occurrence.

    Matched MeSH terms: Medication Errors/statistics & numerical data*
  3. Mamat R, Awang SA, Ab Rahman AF
    Drug Healthc Patient Saf, 2020;12:95-101.
    PMID: 32523381 DOI: 10.2147/DHPS.S249104
    Purpose: Assessment of medication errors (ME) is crucial to improving the quality of health care. A questionnaire that can be used to explore pharmacists' perspectives regarding ME would be very useful as part of an ongoing process of quality improvement in patient care. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a questionnaire to measure perceived causes of ME and attitude towards ME reporting among pharmacists.

    Methods: The questionnaire was developed from the literature together with outcomes from focus group discussions. It was divided into two domains which are knowledge on ME and attitude towards ME reporting. Content validity index (I-CVI), exploratory factor analysis (EFA), Cronbach alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) to assess test-retest reliability were obtained during the validation process.

    Results: Overall Cronbach alpha for internal consistency was good (0.742), where subscale of the questionnaire demonstrated adequate internal consistency, with Cronbach alpha value 0.83 for knowledge and 0.70 for reporting behaviour attitude. The I-CVI showed good scores (knowledge=0.88) and (attitude=0.81), while ICC was moderately accepted with a value of 0.77. Two factors were extracted from the 16 items in EFA.

    Conclusion: The questionnaire to assess knowledge on ME and attitude towards ME reporting among pharmacists is valid and reliable. It demonstrates good psychometric properties.

    Matched MeSH terms: Medication Errors
  4. Che Romli R, Chan SG
    MyJurnal
    This quantitative-oriented research was conducted to identify factors that contributed to errors in dispensing medication among nurses and to understand why nurses did not report their errors in dispensing. In this study a total of 284 U29 nurses participated in focusing on factors contributing to medication errors and failure to report the errors. In this study, analysis of the data collected was made in two sections; dispensing errors and failure to report the errors in giving medication. According to Evans et al. (2006) although nurses may not admit directly to such errors, they expressed their perceptions towards situations described in the questionnaire items as contributing to medication errors among nurses. Almost all in the sample of 284 chose not to report medication errors because they could not identify the cause of dispensing errors; other nurses perceived that the individual involved is not competent in performing the task. Other reasons include fear that the action will be exposed by the management, to avoid publicity from the media, and there is no difference in reporting or not reporting the medication errors. This study was done not only for exploring factors of medication errors; it also aspires to identify problems that arise in hospital services and in order to maintain the quality of health care. The management should consider the impact of medication errors and failure to report medication errors on the nursing profession and quality image of the hospital.
    Matched MeSH terms: Medication Errors
  5. Raja Lope RJ, Boo NY, Rohana J, Cheah FC
    Singapore Med J, 2009 Jan;50(1):68-72.
    PMID: 19224087
    This study aimed to determine the rates of non-adherence to standard steps of medication administration and medication administration errors committed by registered nurses in a neonatal intensive care unit before and after intervention.
    Matched MeSH terms: Medication Errors/prevention & control*
  6. Oh AL, Tan AGHK, Chieng IYY
    J Pharm Pract, 2021 Jan 12.
    PMID: 33433248 DOI: 10.1177/0897190020987127
    INTRODUCTION: Medication history assessment during hospital admissions is an important element in the medication reconciliation process. It ensures continuity of care and reduces medication errors.

    OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the incidence of unintentional discrepancies (medication errors), types of medication errors with its potential severity of patient harm and acceptance rate of pharmaceutical care interventions.

    METHODS: A four-month cross-sectional study was conducted in the general medical wards of a tertiary hospital. All newly admitted patients with at least one prescription medication were recruited via purposive sampling. Medication history assessments were done by clinical pharmacists within 24 hours or as soon as possible after admission. Pharmacist-acquired medication histories were then compared with in-patient medication charts to detect discrepancies. Verification of the discrepancies, interventions, and assessment of the potential severity of patient harm resulting from medication errors were collaboratively carried out with the treating doctors.

    RESULTS: There were 990 medication discrepancies detected among 390 patients recruited in this study. One hundred and thirty-five (13.6%) medication errors were detected in 93 (23.8%) patients (1.45 errors per patient). These were mostly contributed by medication omissions (79.3%), followed by dosing errors (9.6%). Among these errors, 88.2% were considered "significant" or "serious" but none were "life-threatening." Most (83%) of the pharmaceutical interventions were accepted by the doctors.

    CONCLUSION: Medication history assessment by pharmacists proved vital in detecting medication errors, mostly medication omissions. Majority of the errors intervened by pharmacists were accepted by the doctors which prevented potential significant or serious patient harm.

    Matched MeSH terms: Medication Errors
  7. Palasuberniam, Praneetha, Chin, Suliong, Thangiah, Viknesvaran, D’Souza, Urban John Arnold
    MyJurnal
    Medication errors (MEs) are preventable mistakes that occur when there is a failure in the treatment process of any disease that can cause potential harm to patients. Having an effect on patients, health outcomes and costs incurred, it does burden our economically-developing country. Database systems have been created worldwide for the reporting of MEs, but varying countries practise different classifications of MEs hence it poses a challenge to categorize them. This makes it next to impossible to fully curb this continual problem. There are a number of classifications of MEs, based on mistakes and errors based on skills, based on the mistakes itself, based on symptoms and based on the stages of drug delivery system. This review summarizes the pre-existing classifications of MEs.
    Matched MeSH terms: Medication Errors
  8. Olakotan O, Mohd Yusof M, Ezat Wan Puteh S
    Stud Health Technol Inform, 2020 Jun 16;270:906-910.
    PMID: 32570513 DOI: 10.3233/SHTI200293
    Clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) provides vital information for managing patients by advising clinicians through an alert or reminders about adverse events and medication errors. Clinicians receive a high number of alerts, resulting in alert override and workflow disruptions. A systematic review was carried out to identify factors affecting CDSS alert appropriateness in supporting clinical workflows using a recently introduced framework. The review findings identified several influencing factors of CDSS alert appropriateness including: technology (usability, alert presentation, workload and data entry), human (training, knowledge and skills, attitude and behavior), organization (rules and regulation, privacy and security) and process (waste, delay, tuning and optimization). The findings can be used to guide the design of CDSS alert and minimise potential safety hazards associated with CDSS use.
    Matched MeSH terms: Medication Errors
  9. Di Simone E, Di Muzio M, Dionisi S, Giannetta N, Di Muzio F, De Gennaro L, et al.
    Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci, 2019 Jun;23(12):5522-5529.
    PMID: 31298407 DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_201906_18224
    INTRODUCTION: Western world health care systems have been trying to improve their efficiency and effectiveness in order to respond properly to population aging and non-communicable diseases epidemic. Treatment of the elderly population is becoming complex due to the high number of prescribed drugs because of multimorbidity. Errors in drugs administration in different health care related settings are an actual important issue due to different causes. Aim of this observational study is to measure the online interest in seeking medication errors information related to risk management and shift work.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated Google Trends® for popular search relating to medication errors, risk management and shift work. Relative search volumes (RSVs) were evaluated from 2008 to 2018. A comparison between RSV curves related to medication errors, risk management and shift work was carried out. Then, we compared the world to Italian search.

    RESULTS: RSVs were persistently higher for risk management than for medication errors (mean RSVs 069 vs. 48%) and RSVs were stably higher for medication errors than shift work (mean RSVs 48 vs. 22%). In Italy, RSVs were much lower compared to the rest of the world, and RSVs for medication errors during the study period were negligible. Mean RSVs for risk management and shift work were 3 and 25%, respectively. RSVs related to medication errors and clinical risk management were correlated (r=0.520, p<0.0001).

    CONCLUSIONS: Google Trends® search query volumes related to medication errors, risk management and shift work are different. RSVs for risk management are higher, and they are correlated with medication errors. Also, shift work search appears to be lower. These results should be interpreted in order to correctly evaluate how to decrease the number of medication errors in different health care related setting.

    Matched MeSH terms: Medication Errors/prevention & control; Medication Errors/statistics & numerical data*
  10. Samsuri SE, Lua PL, Fahrni ML
    BMJ Open, 2015 Nov 26;5(11):e008889.
    PMID: 26610761 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-008889
    OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety attitudes of pharmacists, provide a profile of their domains of safety attitude and correlate their attitudes with self-reported rates of medication errors.
    DESIGN: A cross-sectional study utilising the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ).
    SETTING: 3 public hospitals and 27 health clinics.
    PARTICIPANTS: 117 pharmacists.
    MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Safety culture mean scores, variation in scores across working units and between hospitals versus health clinics, predictors of safety culture, and medication errors and their correlation.
    RESULTS: Response rate was 83.6% (117 valid questionnaires returned). Stress recognition (73.0±20.4) and working condition (54.8±17.4) received the highest and lowest mean scores, respectively. Pharmacists exhibited positive attitudes towards: stress recognition (58.1%), job satisfaction (46.2%), teamwork climate (38.5%), safety climate (33.3%), perception of management (29.9%) and working condition (15.4%). With the exception of stress recognition, those who worked in health clinics scored higher than those in hospitals (p<0.05) and higher scores (overall score as well as score for each domain except for stress recognition) correlated negatively with reported number of medication errors. Conversely, those working in hospital (versus health clinic) were 8.9 times more likely (p<0.01) to report a medication error (OR 8.9, CI 3.08 to 25.7). As stress recognition increased, the number of medication errors reported increased (p=0.023). Years of work experience (p=0.017) influenced the number of medication errors reported. For every additional year of work experience, pharmacists were 0.87 times less likely to report a medication error (OR 0.87, CI 0.78 to 0.98).
    CONCLUSIONS: A minority (20.5%) of the pharmacists working in hospitals and health clinics was in agreement with the overall SAQ questions and scales. Pharmacists in outpatient and ambulatory units and those in health clinics had better perceptions of safety culture. As perceptions improved, the number of medication errors reported decreased. Group-specific interventions that target specific domains are necessary to improve the safety culture.
    Study site: Klinik kesihatan, hospitals, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Medication Errors/statistics & numerical data
  11. Jafarzadeh Ghoushchi S, Dorosti S, Ab Rahman MN, Khakifirooz M, Fathi M
    J Healthc Eng, 2021;2021:5533208.
    PMID: 33868619 DOI: 10.1155/2021/5533208
    Medication Errors (MEs) are still significant challenges, especially in nonautomated health systems. Qualitative studies are mostly used to identify the parameters involved in MEs. Failing to provide accurate information in expert-based decisions can provoke unrealistic results and inappropriate corrective actions eventually. However, mostly, some levels of uncertainty accompany the decisions in real practice. This study tries to present a hybrid decision-making approach to assigning different weights to risk factors and considering the uncertainty in the ranking process in the Failure Modes and Effect Analysis (FMEA) technique. Initially, significant MEs are identified by three groups of qualified experts (doctors, nurses, and pharmacists). Afterward, for assigning weights to the risk factors, Z-number couples with the Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA) method, named Z-SWARA, to add reliability concept in the decision-making process. Finally, the identified MEs are ranked through the developed Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment (WASPAS) method, namely, Z-WASPAS. To demonstrate the applicability of the proposed approach, the ranking results compare with typical methods, such as fuzzy-WASPAS and FMEA. The findings of the present study highlight improper medication administration as the main failure mode, which can result in a fatality or patient injury. Moreover, the utilization of multiple-criteria decision-making methods in combination with Z-number can be a useful tool in the healthcare management field since it can address the problems by considering reliability and uncertainty simultaneously.
    Matched MeSH terms: Medication Errors/prevention & control
  12. Fatokun O
    Curr Drug Saf, 2020;15(3):181-189.
    PMID: 32538733 DOI: 10.2174/1573403X16666200615144946
    BACKGROUND: While off-label drug use is common and sometimes necessary, it also presents considerable risks. Therefore, measures intended to prevent or reduce the potential exposure to off-label risks have been recommended. However, little is known about community pharmacists' beliefs regarding these measures in Malaysia.

    OBJECTIVES: This study examined community pharmacists' beliefs towards risk minimization measures in off-label drug use in Malaysia and assessed the relationship between perceived risk of off-label drug use and beliefs towards risk minimization measures.

    METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 154 pharmacists practicing in randomly selected community pharmacies in Kuala Lumpur and the State of Selangor, Malaysia.

    RESULTS: The majority agreed or strongly agreed that adverse drug events from the off-label drug should be reported to the regulatory authority (90.9%) and the off-label drug should only be used when the benefit outweighs potential risks (88.3%). Less than half (48.1%) agreed or strongly agreed that written informed consent should be obtained before dispensing off-label drugs and a majority (63.7%) agreed or strongly agreed that the informed consent process will be burdensome to healthcare professionals. Beliefs towards risk minimization measures were significantly associated with perceived risk of off-label drug use regarding efficacy (p = 0. 033), safety (p = 0.001), adverse drug rection (p = 0.001) and medication errors (p = 0.002).

    CONCLUSION: The community pharmacists have positive beliefs towards most of the risk minimization measures. However, beliefs towards written informed consent requirements are not encouraging. Enhancing risk perception may help influence positive beliefs towards risk minimization measures.

    Matched MeSH terms: Medication Errors/prevention & control
  13. Chua SS, Lai PSM, Sim SM, Tan CH, Foong CC
    BMC Med Educ, 2019 Apr 05;19(1):101.
    PMID: 30953493 DOI: 10.1186/s12909-019-1525-y
    BACKGROUND: The success of interprofessional collaboration in healthcare services requires a paradigm shift in the training of future health profession practitioners. This study aimed to develop and validate an instrument to measure Student Acceptance of Interprofessional Learning (SAIL) in Malaysia, and to assess this attribute among medical and pharmacy students using a prescribing skills training workshop.

    METHODS: The study consisted of two phases. In Phase 1, a 10-item instrument (SAIL-10) was developed and tested on a cohort of medical and pharmacy students who attended the workshop. In Phase 2, different cohorts of medical and pharmacy students completed SAIL-10 before and after participating in the workshop.

    RESULTS: Factor analysis showed that SAIL-10 has two domains: "facilitators of interprofessional learning" and "acceptance to learning in groups". The overall SAIL-10 and the two domains have adequate internal consistency and stable reliability. The total score and scores for the two domains were significantly higher after students attended the prescribing skills workshop.

    CONCLUSIONS: This study produced a valid and reliable instrument, SAIL-10 which was used to demonstrate that the prescribing skills workshop, where medical and pharmacy students were placed in an authentic context, was a promising activity to promote interprofessional learning among future healthcare professionals.

    Matched MeSH terms: Medication Errors/prevention & control*
  14. Chan HK, Hassali MA, Lim CJ, Saleem F, Ghani NA
    Pharm Pract (Granada), 2016 Apr-Jun;14(2):699.
    PMID: 27382422 DOI: 10.18549/PharmPract.2016.02.699
    BACKGROUND: Inadequacies of drug labeling have been frequently reported among Malaysian healthcare institutes, in which the Hospital Information System (HIS) is used.
    OBJECTIVE: To identify potential areas to improve the existing labels used for pediatric liquid medications.
    METHODS: This study was qualitative in nature, whereby focus group discussions (FGDs), face-to-face interviews (FTFIs), and onsite observation were used for data collection. Pharmacists stationed at three units (outpatient, inpatient and clinical pharmacy) of a tertiary hospital were targeted. Both FGDs and FTFIs were facilitated using a semi-structured interview guide, video-recorded and transcribed verbatim. All transcripts were thematically analyzed using content analysis approach.
    RESULTS: Thirteen pharmacists participated in FGDs, while five were approached for FTFIs. Data analysis resulted in four major themes: format of labels, presentation of medication instructions, insufficiency of information, and the need for external aids and education. Participants unanimously agreed on the need for enlarging font sizes of key information. Suggestions were made to use more specific instructions for administration times and pictograms to illustrate important directions. The absence of information about storage, stability and handling of liquid medications was also highlighted. While discussion mainly focused on improving drug labeling, participants consistently stressed the need for an instruction sheet and pharmacist-based, one-to-one education regarding medication instructions.
    CONCLUSION: This study provides important insights into critical shortcomings in current labeling practice, underlying the need for developing a new label that incorporates a new format, additional information and pictograms for pediatric liquid medications.
    KEYWORDS: Child; Drug labeling; Hospital; Hospital Information Systems; Malaysia; Medication Errors; Pharmacy Service
    Matched MeSH terms: Medication Errors
  15. Khoo EM, Lee WK, Sararaks S, Abdul Samad A, Liew SM, Cheong AT, et al.
    BMC Fam Pract, 2012 Dec 26;13:127.
    PMID: 23267547 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2296-13-127
    BACKGROUND: Patient safety is vital in patient care. There is a lack of studies on medical errors in primary care settings. The aim of the study is to determine the extent of diagnostic inaccuracies and management errors in public funded primary care clinics.

    METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in twelve public funded primary care clinics in Malaysia. A total of 1753 medical records were randomly selected in 12 primary care clinics in 2007 and were reviewed by trained family physicians for diagnostic, management and documentation errors, potential errors causing serious harm and likelihood of preventability of such errors.

    RESULTS: The majority of patient encounters (81%) were with medical assistants. Diagnostic errors were present in 3.6% (95% CI: 2.2, 5.0) of medical records and management errors in 53.2% (95% CI: 46.3, 60.2). For management errors, medication errors were present in 41.1% (95% CI: 35.8, 46.4) of records, investigation errors in 21.7% (95% CI: 16.5, 26.8) and decision making errors in 14.5% (95% CI: 10.8, 18.2). A total of 39.9% (95% CI: 33.1, 46.7) of these errors had the potential to cause serious harm. Problems of documentation including illegible handwriting were found in 98.0% (95% CI: 97.0, 99.1) of records. Nearly all errors (93.5%) detected were considered preventable.

    CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of medical errors was high in primary care clinics particularly with documentation and medication errors. Nearly all were preventable. Remedial intervention addressing completeness of documentation and prescriptions are likely to yield reduction of errors.

    Matched MeSH terms: Medication Errors/statistics & numerical data*
  16. Fatimah Sham, Siti Munirah Abdul Wahab, Hapesah Mohamed Sihat, Haznizan Abdullah Nazri, Aida Juliana Mohamad Amyah, Harnake Kaur
    MyJurnal
    Medication errors could bring serious consequences to patients. Reporting medication error is a strategy to
    mitigate such incidence from happening. Unfortunately, some nurses do no report the errors due to certain
    factors. Determining the factors influencing unreported medication errors will ensure imperative actions
    that are to be taken to curb this issue. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and perceived
    causes of unreported medication errors among nurses in a public hospital in Selangor. A descriptive and
    cross-sectional study was carried out in 26 wards from various disciplines and the sample involved 234
    nurses. The data were gathered through self-reported questionnaires consisting of three sections. The first
    section covered demographic characteristics, the second section aimed to obtain information on the
    frequency of medication error incidents and the last section aimed to obtain information on nurses'
    perceptions of barriers in reporting medication errors. The findings of this study indicated that there was a
    significant relationship between level of education and the nurses' perceptions of barriers in reporting
    medication errors. The study recommended that providing enough education, initiating a non-punitive
    culture may help increase voluntary reporting of medication errors among nurses to strengthen the
    reporting system and to avert medication errors in the future.
    Matched MeSH terms: Medication Errors
  17. Samsiah A, Othman N, Jamshed S, Hassali MA
    Int J Clin Pharm, 2020 Aug;42(4):1118-1127.
    PMID: 32494990 DOI: 10.1007/s11096-020-01041-0
    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 
    Matched MeSH terms: Medication Errors*
  18. Samsiah A, Othman N, Jamshed S, Hassali MA
    PLoS One, 2016;11(12):e0166114.
    PMID: 27906960 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166114
    OBJECTIVE: To explore and understand participants' perceptions and attitudes towards the reporting of medication errors (MEs).

    METHODS: A qualitative study using in-depth interviews of 31 healthcare practitioners from nine publicly funded, primary care clinics in three states in peninsular Malaysia was conducted for this study. The participants included family medicine specialists, doctors, pharmacists, pharmacist assistants, nurses and assistant medical officers. The interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Analysis of the data was guided by the framework approach.

    RESULTS: Six themes and 28 codes were identified. Despite the availability of a reporting system, most of the participants agreed that MEs were underreported. The nature of the error plays an important role in determining the reporting. The reporting system, organisational factors, provider factors, reporter's burden and benefit of reporting also were identified.

    CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare practitioners in primary care clinics understood the importance of reporting MEs to improve patient safety. Their perceptions and attitudes towards reporting of MEs were influenced by many factors which affect the decision-making process of whether or not to report. Although the process is complex, it primarily is determined by the severity of the outcome of the errors. The participants voluntarily report the errors if they are familiar with the reporting system, what error to report, when to report and what form to use.
    Matched MeSH terms: Medication Errors*
  19. Rasool MF, Rehman AU, Imran I, Abbas S, Shah S, Abbas G, et al.
    Front Public Health, 2020;8:531038.
    PMID: 33330300 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.531038
    Introduction: Medication error is unintentional and can be reduced by reducing the risk factors. Patients suffering from chronic diseases are at an increased risk of medication errors. Objective: This work aims to assess the risk factors associated with medication errors among patients suffering from chronic disorders in hospitals of South Punjab, Pakistan. Methodology: Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the impact of different risk factors on the prevalence of medication errors in patients suffering from chronic diseases. Results: A greater risk for the occurrence of medication errors was associated with age ≥60 years (odds ratio, OR = 1.9; 95% CI = 1.3-3.1; p = 0.001), overburdened healthcare system (OR = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.64-3.56; p < 0.000), number of prescribed drugs ≥5 (OR = 1.74; 95% CI = 1.02-2.64; p < 0.000), comorbidities (OR = 2.6; 95% CI = 1.72-3.6; p = 0.003), Charlson comorbidity index (OR = 1.31; 95% CI = 0.49-1.84; p = 0.004), and multiple prescribers to one patient (OR = 1.12; 95% CI = 0.64-1.76; p = 0.001). Conclusion: Older age, overburdened healthcare system, number of prescribed drugs, comorbidities, Charlson comorbidity index, and multiple prescribers to one patient are significant risk factors for the occurrence of medication errors.
    Matched MeSH terms: Medication Errors*
  20. George D, Supramaniam ND, Hamid SQA, Hassali MA, Lim WY, Hss AS
    Pharm Pract (Granada), 2019 08 21;17(3):1501.
    PMID: 31592290 DOI: 10.18549/PharmPract.2019.3.1501
    Background: Patients requiring medications during discharge are at risk of discharge medication errors that potentially cause readmission due to medication-related events.

    Objective: The objective of this study was to develop interventions to reduce percentage of patients with one or more medication errors during discharge.

    Methods: A pharmacist-led quality improvement (QI) program over 6 months was conducted in medical wards at a tertiary public hospital. Percentage of patients discharge with one or more medication errors was reviewed in the pre-intervention and four main improvements were developed: increase the ratio of pharmacist to patient, prioritize discharge prescription order within office hours, complete discharge medication reconciliation by ward pharmacist, set up a Centralized Discharge Medication Pre-packing Unit. Percentage of patients with one or more medication errors in both pre- and post-intervention phase were monitored using process control chart.

    Results: With the implementation of the QI program, the percentage of patients with one or more medication errors during discharge that were corrected by pharmacists significantly increased from 77.6% to 95.9% (p<0.001). Percentage of patients with one or more clinically significant error was similar in both pre and post-QI with an average of 24.8%.

    Conclusions: Increasing ratio of pharmacist to patient to complete discharge medication reconciliation during discharge significantly recorded a reduction in the percentage of patients with one or more medication errors.

    Matched MeSH terms: Medication Errors
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