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Medication incidents reported to an online incident reporting system
Adel Alrwisan1, Jennifer Ross, David Williams
1The National Pharmacovigilance Centre, Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. aarwisan@sfda.gov.sa
European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
|January 18, 2011
Summary
Medication incidents are frequently underreported, with nursing staff submitting most reports. Further investigation is needed to understand why medical professionals report fewer medication errors.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Quality and Safety
- Medication Safety
- Patient Outcomes
Background:
- Medication incidents contribute significantly to adverse events and healthcare costs.
- Underreporting of medication errors is a persistent challenge in healthcare systems.
- Accurate reporting is crucial for identifying systemic issues and improving patient safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the reporting rate of medication incidents in NHS facilities in Scotland.
- To describe the types and outcomes of reported incidents across various healthcare services.
- To quantify incident reporting by professional background.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of medication incidents reported via the DATIX system.
- Data collected over 46 months (July 2005 to April 2009).
- Inclusion of reports from acute hospitals, community hospitals, mental health, and primary care facilities.
Main Results:
- 2,666 medication incidents were reported, with 6.1% resulting in harm.
- Insulin was the most implicated medication; administration errors comprised 59% of incidents.
- Nursing and midwifery staff submitted 80% of reports, while medical and dental professionals submitted only 2%.
Conclusions:
- Most reported medication incidents stem from administration errors and are reported by nursing staff.
- A significant disparity exists in reporting rates between nursing and medical/dental professionals.
- Understanding the barriers to reporting among medical and dental staff is essential for improving medication safety.
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