THE IMPACT OF EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTION STRATEGIES IN REDUCING MEDICATION ERRORS IN A TARTAIRY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL

Abstract

Medication error can increase the cost, prolong hospital stay and increase the risk of death almost two fold. Several studies have already demonstrated that pharmacist can play major role in detection and prevention of medication errors. Present study was aimed to detect and evaluate the incidence, types of medication errors and to assess the severity of medication errors in the medicine wards of Basaveshwar teaching and general hospital, Gulbarga. Prospective study was carried out from July 2011 to January 2012.Inpatients records of patients from six units of medicine department were reviewed during their stay in hospital. Detected medication errors were documented and evaluated. A total of 500 cases of the patients were selected, among them 77.2% were male and 25.8% were females. 37.5% of them were in the age group of 40 to 60 years.118 medication errors were detected in 72 patients. Maximum medication errors

(27) were detected in the month of December 2011. The overall incidence of medication error was found to be 23.6%. A total of 118 medication errors were observed, among them 29.6% were errors in medication ordering and transcription, 24.5% were errors in medication dispensing and 45.7% were nursing errors in medication administration. The causes of medication error were 61.1% were due to nurses, 17.7% were due to Pharmacists and 16.1% errors were due to physicians. Majority of medication errors were belonging to CVS drug class (20.3%).On evaluation of severity, majority of medication errors 85.5% were classified as category Error, No harm, followed by 14.4% were in category No Error. This study concluded that 23.6% medication errors were detected during study period and revealed that pharmacist can play a major role in preventing these errors by early detection.