Zeitschrift für pharmazeutische Pflege und Gesundheitssysteme
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Medication Error Patients Admitted to Medical Ward in Primary Hospital, Ethiopia: Prospective Observational Study

Kebede B* and Yitayih Kefale

Medication error (ME) is broadly defined as any error in the prescribing, dispensing, or administration of a drug. ME is the single most preventable cause of patient harm. An infinite number of medication error exist because of the rapidly expanding array of drug products available, the growing number of diseases being recognized & diagnosed, and the growing number of patients entering the health care system. To evaluate the most frequently encountered drug class undergo medication errors, to identify sources of medication error and evaluate predictors of medication errors among patients admitted to medical ward in primary hospital, northwest Ethiopia. Prospective observational study was conducted from April 1/2018-October/2019G.C. All adult patients who met inclusion criteria were included in the study. Patient medication adherence was evaluated using morisky adherence scale. Independent predictors of outcome identified and strength of association between dependent and independent variables determined by using binary logistic regression analysis and statistical significance was considered at p<0.05. Two hundred sixty patients were included in the analysis.

Among these, majority of them were encountered medication errors. Anti-infective drugs were mostly prescribed as well as medication error encountered. Unnecessary drug therapy is the most common error. Proportion of patients with medication error is lower among patients who are on 1-3 drugs as compared to those patient who are on more than five drugs (p=0.025). Patients who stayed less than one week less likely encountered medication errors as compared to those stay more than a week (p=0.024). Since medication availability is significant determinant for medication error, hospital should try to avail medication and prevent medication errors. Clinical pharmacists should involve in multidisciplinary team and continuous patient medication reconciliation should be integral part of patient medical management.