<p>Medication Error and Its Contributing Factors Among Pediatric Patients Diagnosed with Infectious Diseases Admitted to Jimma University Medical Center, Southwest Ethiopia: Prospective Observational Study</p>

Abstract

Background Medication errors in pediatric patients are grossly underreported. Pediatric patients are quite susceptible to medication errors. Potential injury by medication error is higher in young children and infants. It results in serious morbidity and mortality. Thus, this study aimed to assess medication error and its contributing factors among pediatric patients diagnosed with infectious diseases admitted to Jimma University Medical Center. Methods A prospective observational study was conducted among pediatric patients with infectious diseases admitted from April 1 to June 30, 2018. The patient’s written informed consent was obtained after explaining the purpose of the study. The data were collected by structured questionnaire. Data were entered into EpiData version 4.0.2 and then exported to SPSS version 21.0 for analysis. To identify the predictors of medication error, backward logistic regression analysis was done. Results From a total of the 325 study participants, 136 (41.8%) patients had at least one medication error during their hospital stay. A total of 273 medication errors were identified among 136 patients. Medication errors frequently occurred at prescribing stage 94 (34.4%). The most common types of medication errors were wrong dosing 72 (26.4%) and wrong frequency 47 (17.2%). Presence of disease comorbidity (AOR=1.64, 95%CI=1.01–2.67), being male (AOR=1.79, 95%CI:1.13–2.86) and presence of two infectious diseases (AOR=1.96, 95%CI: 1.20–3.23) and more than three infectious diseases (AOR=2.04, 95%CI: 1.03–4.01) were independent predictors of medication error occurrence. Conclusion and Recommendation Medication errors were common in pediatric patients with infectious diseases in the study area. Presence of comorbidities, being male and the number of infectious diseases were associated with the occurrence of medication errors. Therefore, to reduce medication errors in the study setting, e-prescribing, computerized provider order entry, medication reconciliation, and collaboration of clinical pharmacists with other health professionals are needed.

Characteristics and Consequences of Medication Errors in Pediatric Patients Reported to Ramathibodi Poison Center: A 10-Year Retrospective Study

“…MEs were defined as errors during drug prescribing, transcribing, administering, dispensing, and monitoring 4 that occurred during hospitalization in both outpatient and inpatient facilities.…”

“…An administration error was defined as any difference between what the patient received or was supposed to receive and what the prescriber intended in the original order. 4,13 A route error occurred when a medication was given by an incorrect route of administration. 4,13 A dose error occurred when the medication dose, strength, quantity or frequency given was different from the standard dose, strength, quantity or frequency.…”

“…4,13 A route error occurred when a medication was given by an incorrect route of administration. 4,13 A dose error occurred when the medication dose, strength, quantity or frequency given was different from the standard dose, strength, quantity or frequency. 4,13,14 A patient error occurred when a patient's medication was incorrectly given to another patient.…”

“…4,13 A dose error occurred when the medication dose, strength, quantity or frequency given was different from the standard dose, strength, quantity or frequency. 4,13,14 A patient error occurred when a patient's medication was incorrectly given to another patient. 13 Based on the ME taxonomy developed by the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention (NCC MERP), MEs can be classified into categories A to I according to the severity of the outcome.…”

“…They also require weight-based dosing calculations. 4 Children are at greater risk of MEs because of their wide variation in body mass, necessitating calculation of unique drug doses based on the patient’s body weight or body surface area. 5 , 6 The incidence of ME is reportedly higher in pediatric patients than in adult patients.…”