Errors in the Medication Process of Inpatients at Hospital Público Materno Infantil de Salta

Authors

  • Virginia Ocaña Hospital Público Materno Infantil de Salta.
  • Guillermo Sánchez Domenech Hospital Público Materno Infantil de Salta.
  • Carolina Sánchez Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Salta

Keywords:

Patient Safety, Medication Errors, Public Health, Pharmacovigilance

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Medication errors cause adverse events in health care. OBJECTIVES: To characterize the medication process errors at Hospital Materno Infantil of Salta. METHODS: Errors were identified by pharmaceutical validation of prescriptions. Error rates were calculated, and associations between error and patient factors, drug treatment and human resource were determined. RESULTS: From November 1, 2012 to January 31, 2013 a total of 18 203 prescriptions were validated, identifying 2 989 (96.7%) errors of prescription, 79 (2.5%) of administration, 6 (0.2%) of transcription and 18 (0.6%) of dispensing. The error rate was 13.06 per 100 patient days for the Perinatology Area, with 30% of omission of doses and 23% of incorrect dose prescription. In the Pediatric Area, the rate was 8.6 per 100 patient days, with 55% of wrong doses, associated with child age. The pharmacotherapeutic groups involved were: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, digestive and circulatory system drugs, and anti-infectives. Most errors occurred with commonly used drugs, with potentially significant consequences for patients. The error rate was similar to doctors in training and permanent staff. CONCLUSIONS: Intensive pharmacovigilance allowed the identification of a large number of errors. Their characterization will permit to establish prevention strategies.

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Published

31-08-2017

How to Cite

Ocaña , V., Sánchez Domenech, G. ., & Sánchez, C. . (2017). Errors in the Medication Process of Inpatients at Hospital Público Materno Infantil de Salta. Revista Argentina De Salud Pública, 8(31), 19–26. Retrieved from https://rasp.msal.gov.ar/index.php/rasp/article/view/131