Differences in Perioperative Medication Errors With Regard to Organization Characteristics

Abstract

RESEARCHERS CONDUCTED a descriptive, comparative, secondary analysis using a national database to investigate differences in perioperative medication error characteristics with regard to organization characteristics. PERIOPERATIVE MEDICATION ERROR records reported to the MEDMARX database between Sept 1, 1998, and Aug 31, 2003, were examined (N = 5,210), and variables were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Statistically significant differences were found for three out of four research questions. THE STUDY'S FINDINGS provide a foundation for perioperative medication error analysis and serve as a starting point for organizations to begin investigating the medication error problem in their facilities.

Medication Safety Initiative in Reducing Medication Errors

“…5 Both MEDMARX database analyses showed administration as the most common cause of error, needing further exploration. In this study, 4 administration (33%) was the most common cause of error followed by documentation/transcription (23%), dispensing (22%), and prescribing (21%).…”

Factors effective on medication errors: A nursing view

“…[1] Moreover, the medication error means a disorder in the treatment process, which is followed by a potential or actual risk of hazard for patient. [2] Nowadays, medication errors have attracted more attention because of the complications like higher mortality rate and cost of health-care.…”

Factors Affecting Incident Reporting by Registered Nurses: The Relationship of Perceptions of the Environment for Reporting Errors, Knowledge of the Nursing Practice Act, and Demographics on Intent to Report Errors

“…The top six contributing factors were identified as distraction, inexperienced staff, workload increases, no access to patient information, shift change, and cross coverage. Goeckner et al 14 addressed organizational characteristics related to medication errors in perioperative areas. They found that severity of errors did not vary by type of hospital ownership, but the point in the medication process at which errors occurred did vary according to the size of the hospital.…”