Abstract

Evaluation of Medication Errors in Orthopaedic and Surgery Wards in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital

Background: Medication errors can result in serious morbidity or mortality and have a significant economic impact on the patient and health care system Thus, this study aimed to determine the nature and type of Medication Errors (MEs), to find out the frequency and severity of medication errors, and assess the rationality of prescription orders in a tertiary care teaching hospital. Methods: A prospective, observational study was conducted in the Surgery and Orthopaedic ward of Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad from August 2018 to July 2019. MEs were categorized as prescription errors, dispensing errors, and administration errors. The case records and treatment charts were reviewed. The investigator also accompanied the staff nurse during the ward rounds and interviewed patients or caretakers to gather information, if necessary. The rationality of prescriptions was assessed using Phadke’s criteria. The MEs were categorized using the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention (NCC MERP) category. Results: A total number of 170 (40.47%) medication errors were detected in 420 patients. Out of 170 errors, 89 (52.35%) were in surgery and 81 (47.64%) were in orthopaedic wards. Out of the 170 errors 166 (97.64%) were prescription errors, 3 (1.76%) were dispensing errors and 1 (0.58%) administration error. The majority of the prescriptions were semirational (65%) followed by rational (33%), while (2%) were rational. Conclusions: There is a need to establish an ME reporting system to reduce its incidence and improve patient care and safety

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