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Factors contributing to medication errors: a literature review.
1Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland.
Journal of Clinical Nursing
|April 29, 2000
Summary
Medication errors persist in nursing practice despite nurses’ responsibility for drug administration. This review identifies factors contributing to these errors and emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach for reduction.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Patient Safety
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Drug administration is a core nursing responsibility.
- Medication errors remain a significant challenge in healthcare.
- Nurses are accountable for the safe administration of medications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define medication errors.
- To identify factors contributing to medication errors.
- To explore strategies for reducing medication errors.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of reported medication errors.
- Analysis of nurses' opinions on error-predisposing factors.
- Examination of existing definitions of medication errors.
Main Results:
- Medication errors are multifactorial, influenced by various elements in practice.
- A clear, consistent definition of medication errors is needed for research comparison.
- Nurses' perspectives highlight specific environmental and systemic factors contributing to errors.
Conclusions:
- Medication errors are a complex, multidisciplinary issue.
- A unified approach involving multiple disciplines is essential for error reduction.
- Standardized definitions and further research are crucial for improving patient safety.