Medication errors by caregivers at home in neonates discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit

Area of Science:

• Pediatric pharmacology
• Neonatal care
• Patient safety

Background:

• Infants discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) often require complex medication regimens.
• Caregiver administration of medications at home presents a potential risk for medication errors.
• Understanding the frequency and types of these errors is crucial for improving infant safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence of medication errors made by caregivers at home for neonates discharged from the NICU.
• To identify risk factors associated with these medication errors.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive, cross-sectional study involving 166 infants (<3 months old) followed at a High-Risk Newborn Follow-up Clinic.
• Medication data was collected from discharge summaries and caregiver interviews.
• Caregiver-reported medication administration (names, doses, frequency) was compared against prescribed regimens.

Main Results:

• A high frequency of medication errors (66.3%) was observed among caregivers.
• Dose administration errors, specifically incorrect measurement, were the most prevalent type (54%).
• Prescriptions including more than three drugs were significantly associated with an increased risk of medication errors (OR 4.19).

Conclusions:

• Medication errors are frequent in infants under three months of age, particularly dose administration errors.
• The complexity of medication regimens, defined as more than three drugs, is a significant risk factor for caregiver medication errors.
• Interventions targeting caregiver education and simplifying medication regimens may be necessary to reduce errors in this vulnerable population.