Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 23, 2026

Improving IV Insulin Administration in a Community Hospital
12:08

Improving IV Insulin Administration in a Community Hospital

Published on: June 11, 2012

19.4K

Opinions of Maltese doctors and pharmacists on medication errors

Amy Tanti1, Miriam Camilleri2, Andrew A Borg3

  • 1Medicines Authority, Malta Life Sciences Park, Sir Temi Zammit Buildings, San Ġwann, Malta.

The International Journal of Risk & Safety in Medicine
|September 9, 2017
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Healthcare professionals identified staff distractions, overwork, and fatigue as key factors contributing to medication errors (MEs). Addressing these issues and improving resources are crucial for reducing MEs.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacovigilance and patient safety
  • Healthcare professional opinions
  • Medication error analysis

Background:

  • European Pharmacovigilance Directive 2010/84/EU highlighted medication errors (MEs) and the need to identify causal factors.
  • Regulatory bodies were encouraged to investigate factors contributing to medication errors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate healthcare professionals' views on factors causing medication errors.
  • To explore strategies for minimizing medication errors.
  • To determine if opinions on medication error causes and prevention differ among doctors and pharmacists in various practice settings (community, hospital, office).

Main Methods:

  • Questionnaires were distributed to doctors and pharmacists.
  • Respondents were categorized based on their primary practice setting.

Main Results:

  • A total of 320 responses were analyzed (204 doctors, 116 pharmacists).
  • Statistically significant differences in opinions were noted regarding staff distractions, overwork, fatigue, technical resource availability, and having multiple doctors on duty.
  • Pharmacists specifically differed on opinions regarding generic medicine availability and interruptions.

Conclusions:

  • Staff distractions and interruptions during task execution are significant areas needing attention.
  • Overwork and fatigue particularly impact hospital doctors, who suggest regulatory control on patient numbers could reduce errors.
  • Enhancing technical resources, continuous professional development, and managing workload are vital for medication error reduction.
Keywords:
Medication errorsdispensing errorsprescribing errors

More Related Videos

Multiplex Therapeutic Drug Monitoring by Isotope-dilution HPLC-MS/MS of Antibiotics in Critical Illnesses11:17

Multiplex Therapeutic Drug Monitoring by Isotope-dilution HPLC-MS/MS of Antibiotics in Critical Illnesses

Published on: August 30, 2018

13.5K
Errors as a Means of Reducing Impulsive Food Choice07:07

Errors as a Means of Reducing Impulsive Food Choice

Published on: June 5, 2016

9.3K

Related Concept Videos

Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios01:26

Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios

Pharmaceutical poisoning can occur through various channels, impacting an estimated 2 million hospitalized patients in the U.S. annually with serious adverse drug responses. These scenarios encompass both therapeutic uses, such as drug toxicity, where even standard dosages can lead to severe central nervous system depression, and non-therapeutic exposures, including accidental ingestion by children, and environmental and occupational exposures.Unintentional poisonings often involve exploratory...
22
Errors occurring during blood pressure monitoring01:25

Errors occurring during blood pressure monitoring

Blood pressure monitoring is a crucial clinical procedure in diagnosing and managing various cardiovascular conditions. Despite its significance, the accuracy of blood pressure measurements can be compromised by multiple factors, potentially leading to either falsely high or low readings. These inaccuracies are critical as they can significantly impact patient care. So, it is vital to understand these challenges deeply and adopt strategic approaches to minimize errors.
Several factors...
1.6K
Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients01:15

Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients

Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...
308
Drug Toxicity: Risk factors01:24

Drug Toxicity: Risk factors

Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) are potential complications that arise during pharmacotherapy, influenced by multiple risk factors. Age plays a significant role; both neonates and the elderly are at heightened risk due to their respective immature and diminished metabolic and elimination processes. Gender also impacts ADRs, with females experiencing a 1.5 to 1.7-fold greater risk than males, which may be linked to pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and hormonal differences. Notably, neonates, the...
38
Pharmacovigilance01:19

Pharmacovigilance

Post-marketing surveillance is a critical component of pharmaceutical regulation, often uncovering unanticipated adverse drug reactions (ADRs) once a drug is widely used over an extended period.
This process, termed pharmacovigilance, aims to detect, evaluate, and minimize harmful effects related to medication use. The data collection for pharmacovigilance depends on spontaneous reporting systems, where healthcare professionals or patients voluntarily report suspected ADRs.
In some cases, there...
1.8K
Drug Regulation01:25

Drug Regulation

Drug regulation encompasses the management of drug usage by evaluating its safety and efficacy through assessments conducted by regulatory authorities. Regrettably, the history of drug regulation is marred by several catastrophic events. One such incident is the Elixir Sulfanilamide tragedy, in which the toxic compound diethyl glycol was included in a sweet-tasting medication, leading to numerous fatalities. This event prompted the enactment of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act in 1938. Under...
3.2K