Evaluation of the relationship between drugs’ safety competence and Medication Administration Error Perceptions in Clinical nurses of Northwest Iran

Abstract

Aims: The present study aimed to Evaluate of relationship between drugs’ safety competence and Medication Administration Error Perceptions in clinical nurses who are working in clinical nurses of northwest Iran Background: The first and most important aim of a medical facility, as in the Nightingale pledge, is to not harm patients and protect their safety in the first place. One of the major threats to patient safety is drug-related errors. Methods: This correlational study was conducted in Ardabil, northwest of Iran, in 2023. In these 300 nurses have been categorized by a proportional stratified sampling method. For data collection, we used the Bijani et al(2023) Persian version of the medication safety competence Questionnaire and the Wakefield et all (2005) Medication Administration Error Perceptions Questionnaire”.The collected data were analyzed in SPSS software (26) using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and linear regression model. Results: The results revealed that the drug safety competencies in Nurses (77%) and Medication Administration Error Perceptions in nurses (96%) were at a moderate level. The mean nurses’ drug safety competence and Medication Administration Error Perceptions were reported (294.22 ± 26.61) and (135.48 ± 15.14) and this difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). There was a positive and significant correlation between drug safety competencies and Medication Administration Error Perceptions (P=0.007, r=0.15). A simple linear regression model showed that The field of "patient-centered medication management" of medication safety competency was a stronger predictor than other variables in medication error perception. Conclusion: In the present study, nurses reported medication safety competence and perception of medication error at an average level. It is suggested that health policymakers and decision-makers take the necessary measures by holding consensus meetings and effective workshops to reduce medication errors and improve nurses' medication perception.