Medication Errors and Its Contributing Factors in Intensive Care Units

Abstract Background: Medication errors (MEs) can have a variety of different effects; they can lead to higher patient mortality and morbidity, longer hospital stays, and higher financial demands. These mistakes reduce the patients’ pleasure and trust in the healthcare system, and they can be psychologically painful for the nurse who made them. Objectives: This study aimed to: (1) determine MEs and their contributing factors; (2) find out the association between MEs and contributing factors; (3) investigate the relationship between ME with regards to the nurse’s socio-demographic characteristics such as age groups, gender, and marital status. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Hilla City. The study sample, consisting of 150 nurses working in critical care units, was selected according to the non-probability sampling approach as a convenience sample. The validity of the questionnaire was verified by experts, and its reliability was verified through a pilot study. The reliability testing as Cronbach’s α was as follows: the most common kind of ME was 0.90, and contributory factors had an Cronbach’s α coefficient of 0.81, which is statistically acceptable. Data were collected through the self-report and analyzed by applying descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. Results: The results showed that the wrong was the most common ME reported by the nurses, with 20% always, 59% sometimes, and a mean of 1.99 of the surveyed nurses agreeing that this error is frequently done. And the main contributing factor is workload, with 23.3% strongly agreeing, 48.7% agreeing, and a mean of 2.91. Consent means that these factors lead to MEs. The correlation indicates a significant relationship between ME and its contributing factors at P = 0.000. The results show that there are significant differences between sociodemographic data (gender, working hours, and working shift) and MEs. Conclusions: According to the nurses’ perception of MEs, the most prevalent form is inappropriate time of medicine administration. Less frequently occurring types of MEs include wrong rate (too fast or too slow) and wrong concentration. Workload and the inability to read instructions due to the doctor’s poor handwriting were the leading factors in medication administrations.