Medication Errors and Their Relationship with Care Complexity and Work Dynamics

Prevalence of medication errors and its related factors in Iranian nurses: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Nurses may make medication errors during the implementation of therapeutic interventions, which initially threaten the patient's health and safety and prolong their hospital stay. These errors have always been a challenge for healthcare systems. Given that factors such as the timing, type, and causes of medication errors can serve as suitable predictors for their occurrence, we have decided to conduct a review study aiming to investigate the prevalence of medication errors and the associated factors among Iranian nurses.

METHODS

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, studies were searched on PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, IranMedex, Magiran, and SID databases using a combination of keywords and Boolean functions. The study that reported the prevalence of medication errors among nurses in Iran without time limitation up to May 2023 was included in this study.

RESULTS

A total of 36 studies were included in the analysis. The analysis indicates that 54% (95% CI: 43, 65; I2 = 99.3%) of Iranian nurses experienced medication errors. The most common types of medication errors by nurses were wrong timing 27.3% (95% CI: 19, 36; I2 = 95.8%), and wrong dosage 26.4% (95% CI: 20, 33; I2 = 91%). Additionally, the main causes of medication errors among nurses were workload 43%, fatigue 42.7%, and nursing shortage 38.8%. In this study, just 39% (95% CI: 27, 50; I2 = 97.1%) of nurses with medication errors did report their errors. Moreover, the prevalence of medication errors was more in the night shift at 41.1%. The results of the meta-regression showed that publication year and the female-to-male ratio are good predictors of medical errors, but they are not statistically significant(p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

To reduce medication errors, nurses need to work in a calm environment that allows for proper nursing interventions and prevents overcrowding in departments. Additionally, considering the low reporting of medication errors to managers, support should be provided to nurses who report medication errors, in order to promote a culture of reporting these errors among Iranian nurses and ensure patient safety is not compromised.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Behaviour with Regard to Medication Errors in Intravenous Therapy: A Cross-Cultural Pilot Study

BACKGROUND

Literature on the prevention of medication errors is growing, highlighting that knowledge, attitude and behavior with regard to medication errors are strategic to planning of educational activities and evaluating their impact on professional practice. In this context, the present pilot study aims to translate and validate nursing professionals' knowledge, attitudes and behavior (KAB theory) concerning medication administration errors in ICU from English into Persian. Furthermore, two main objectives of the project were: performing a pilot study among Iranian nurses using the translated questionnaire and carrying out a cultural measurement of the KAB theory concerning medication administration errors in an ICU questionnaire across two groups of Italian and Iranian populations.

METHODS

A cross-cultural adaptation of an instrument, according to the Checklist for reporting of survey studies (CROSS), was performed. The convenience sample was made up of 529 Iranian and Italian registered nurses working in ICU. An exploratory factor analysis was performed and reliability was assessed. A multi-group confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to test the measurement invariance. Ethical approval was obtained.

RESULTS

There was an excellent internal consistency for the 19-item scale. Results regarding factorial invariance showed that the nursing population from Italy and Iran used the same cognitive framework to conceptualize the prevention of medication errors.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings from this preliminary translation and cross-cultural validation confirm that the questionnaire is a reliable and valid instrument within Persian healthcare settings. Moreover, these findings suggest that Italian and Persian nurses used an identical cognitive framework or mental model when thinking about medication errors prevention. The paper not only provides, for the first time, a validated instrument to evaluate the KAB theory in Iran, but it should promote other researchers in extending this kind of research, supporting those countries where attention to medical error is still increasing.

Stability of vancomycin hydrochloride employed in antimicrobial seal solutions of central intravenous catheters

OBJECTIVE

to verify the stability of vancomycin hydrochloride in antimicrobial seal solutions with and without association of heparin sodium according to temperature and association time.

METHOD

an experimental study designed for the analysis of hydrogenionic potential and concentration by means of high-efficiency liquid chromatography of vancomycin hydrochloride (n=06) and vancomycin hydrochloride and heparin sodium (n=06). The solutions studied were submitted to absence of light, as well as to 22°C and 37°C. Analyses in triplicate (n=192) were performed at the initial moment (T0) and three (T3), eight (T8) and 24 hours (T24) after preparation. The data were submitted to analysis of variance (p≤0.05).

RESULTS

concentration of the antimicrobial at 22°C presented a reduction (T0-T8) and a subsequent increase (T24); hydrogenionic potential decreased significantly over time. At 37°C, the concentration increased up to T3 and decreased at T24, with a reduction of hydrogenionic potential up to 24 hours. Concentration of the vancomycin hydrochloride and heparin sodium solutions varied with a reduction at 22°C, accompanied by increased hydrogenionic potential. Precipitate formation was observed by visual inspection of the vancomycin hydrochloride-heparin sodium association (T3).

CONCLUSION

pharmacological stability of vancomycin hydrochloride (5 mg/mL) and physical incompatibility with heparin sodium (100 IU/mL) were evidenced after three hours of association in the antimicrobial seal solutions studied.

Estabilidad del clorhidrato de vancomicina utilizado en soluciones de sellado antimicrobiano para catéteres intravenosos centrales

Resumen Objetivo: verificar la estabilidad del clorhidrato de vancomicina en soluciones de sellado antimicrobiano solo y combinado con heparina sódica según la temperatura y el tiempo de combinación. Método: estudio experimental diseñado para analizar el potencial de hidrógeno y la concentración por cromatografía líquida de alta resolución de soluciones de clorhidrato de vancomicina (n=06) y de clorhidrato de vancomicina y heparina sódica (n=06). Las soluciones estudiadas fueron sometidas a ausencia de luz, 22°C y 37°C. Se realizaron análisis por triplicado (n=192) en el momento inicial (T0), a las tres (T3), ocho (T8) y 24 horas (T24) después de la preparación. Los datos fueron sometidos a análisis de varianza (p≤0,05). Resultados: la concentración de antimicrobiano a 22°C mostró una reducción (T0-T8) y un posterior aumento (T24); el potencial de hidrógeno disminuyó significativamente con el tiempo. A 37°C, la concentración aumentó hasta T3 y disminuyó en T24, el potencial de hidrógeno disminuyó hasta las 24 horas. La concentración de las soluciones de clorhidrato de vancomicina y heparina sódica mostró variación con la reducción a 22°C acompañada de un aumento del potencial de hidrógeno. Mediante inspección visual se observó la formación de un precipitado al combinar clorhidrato de vancomicina y heparina sódica (T3). Conclusión: el clorhidrato de vancomicina (5 mg/ml) presentó evidencia de estabilidad farmacológica e incompatibilidad física con la heparina sódica (100 UI/ml) después de las tres horas de haberse realizado la combinación en las soluciones de sellado antimicrobiano estudiadas.

Stability of vancomycin hydrochloride employed in antimicrobial seal solutions of central intravenous catheters

Abstract Objective: to verify the stability of vancomycin hydrochloride in antimicrobial seal solutions with and without association of heparin sodium according to temperature and association time. Method: an experimental study designed for the analysis of hydrogenionic potential and concentration by means of high-efficiency liquid chromatography of vancomycin hydrochloride (n=06) and vancomycin hydrochloride and heparin sodium (n=06). The solutions studied were submitted to absence of light, as well as to 22°C and 37°C. Analyses in triplicate (n=192) were performed at the initial moment (T0) and three (T3), eight (T8) and 24 hours (T24) after preparation. The data were submitted to analysis of variance (p≤0.05). Results: concentration of the antimicrobial at 22°C presented a reduction (T0-T8) and a subsequent increase (T24); hydrogenionic potential decreased significantly over time. At 37°C, the concentration increased up to T3 and decreased at T24, with a reduction of hydrogenionic potential up to 24 hours. Concentration of the vancomycin hydrochloride and heparin sodium solutions varied with a reduction at 22°C, accompanied by increased hydrogenionic potential. Precipitate formation was observed by visual inspection of the vancomycin hydrochloride-heparin sodium association (T3). Conclusion: pharmacological stability of vancomycin hydrochloride (5 mg/mL) and physical incompatibility with heparin sodium (100 IU/mL) were evidenced after three hours of association in the antimicrobial seal solutions studied.

Pharmacist-led educational interventions provided to healthcare providers to reduce medication errors: A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Medication errors are avoidable events that can occur at any stage of the medication use process. They are widespread in healthcare systems and are linked to an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Several strategies have been studied to reduce their occurrence including different types of pharmacy-based interventions. One of the main pharmacist-led interventions is educational programs, which seem to have promising benefits.

OBJECTIVE

To describe and compare various pharmacist-led educational interventions delivered to healthcare providers and to evaluate their impact qualitatively and quantitatively on medication error rates.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted through searching Cochrane Library, EBSCO, EMBASE, Medline and Google Scholar from inception to June 2020. Only interventional studies that reported medication error rate change after the intervention were included. Two independent authors worked through the data extraction and quality assessment using Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool (CCAT). Summary odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model for rates of medication errors. Research protocol is available in The International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) under the registration number CRD42019116465.

RESULTS

Twelve studies involving 115058 participants were included. The two main recipients of the educational interventions were nurses and resident physicians. Educational programs involved lectures, posters, practical teaching sessions, audit and feedback method and flash cards of high-risk abbreviations. All studies included educational sessions as part of their program, either alone or in combination with other approaches, and most studies used errors encountered before implementing the intervention to inform the content of these sessions. Educational programs led by a pharmacist were associated with significant reductions in the overall rate of medication errors occurrence (OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.22 to 0.65).

CONCLUSION

Pharmacist-led educational interventions directed to healthcare providers are effective at reducing medication error rates. This review supports the implementation of pharmacist-led educational intervention aimed at reducing medication errors.