A prospective longitudinal study of medication errors in private hospital of metropolitan city of Gujarat

To identify occurrence rate and to suggest management strategies for medication errors in a multi-speciality private hospital of metropolitan city of Gujarat. A prospective, longitudinal study was conducted in surgery and medicine ward of the hospital, during 15th July’2014 to 15th Jan’2015 after approval from human ethics committee. Medication errors (MEs) were categorized as prescription error (PE) and administration error (AE). The case records and treatment charts were reviewed and root causes were identified. The investigator also accompanied the staff nurse during the ward rounds and interviewed patients or care taker to gather information, if necessary. A total of 230 geriatric patients (81 in Medical and 149 in surgical ward) were included. Total 23 (10.5%) in medicine and 82(37.43%) in surgical wards MEs were reported. Greater number of MEs were found in female patients 68(64.76%) as compared to male 37(35.24%). The most common ME was PEs 98 (93.33%) followed by AEs 7 (6.67%). On second day of stay higher 99(68.28%) number of MEs were found. Incomplete patient information and miscommunication were common cause of PE. Moreover, lack of communication and requisition errors was common to AEs. A high occurrence rate (45.65%) of MEs was observed with no serious outcome. The root causes of errors were identified and training was provided to minimized errors in future.