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Updated: Dec 5, 2025
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Published on: June 11, 2012
Hospital medication errors: a cross-sectional study
Anton N Isaacs1, Kenneth Ch'ng2, Naaz Delhiwale2
1Monash University, School of Rural Health, Traralgon, VIC 3844, Australia.
Background:
Medication errors (MEs) are among the most common types of incidents reported in Australian and international hospitals. There is no uniform method of reporting and reducing these errors. This study aims to identify the incidence, time trends, types and factors associated with MEs in a large regional hospital in Australia.
Methods:
A 5-year cross-sectional study.
Results:
The incidence of MEs was 1.05 per 100 admitted patients. The highest frequency of errors was observed during the colder months of May-August. When distributed by day of the week, Mondays and Tuesdays had the highest frequency of errors. When distributed by hour of the day, time intervals from 7 am to 8 am and from 7 pm to 8 pm showed a sharp increase in the frequency of errors. One thousand and eighty-eight (57.8%) MEs belonged to incidence severity rating (ISR) level 4 and 787 (41.8%) belonged to ISR level 3. There were six incidents of ISR level 2 and only one incident of ISR level 1 reported during the five-year period 2014-2018. Administration-only errors were the most common accounting for 1070 (56.8%) followed by prescribing-only errors (433, 23%). High-risk medications were associated with half the number of errors, the most common of which were narcotics (17.9%) and antimicrobials (13.2%).
Conclusions:
MEs continue to be a problem faced by international hospitals. Inexperience of health professionals and nurse-patient ratios might be the fundamental challenges to overcome. Specific training of junior staff in prescribing and administering medication and nurse workload management could be possible solutions to reducing MEs in hospitals.
Insights
Medication errors (MEs) are a significant issue in hospitals, with administration errors being most common. Addressing staff inexperience and workload may reduce these critical patient safety events.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Quality and Safety
- Clinical Pharmacy
- Patient Safety Research
Background:
- Medication errors (MEs) are frequent hospital incidents globally.
- Standardized methods for reporting and reducing MEs are lacking.
- This study investigates the incidence, trends, types, and contributing factors of MEs in an Australian regional hospital.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of medication errors in a large Australian regional hospital.
- To analyze temporal trends (seasonal, weekly, daily) of medication errors.
- To identify the types and severity of medication errors and associated high-risk medications.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective 5-year cross-sectional study was conducted.
- Data on medication errors were collected and analyzed.
- Incidence severity rating (ISR) and error types were categorized.
Main Results:
- The incidence of MEs was 1.05 per 100 admitted patients.
- Errors peaked during colder months (May-August), on Mondays/Tuesdays, and during 7-8 am/pm hours.
- Administration errors (56.8%) were most frequent, often involving high-risk medications like narcotics (17.9%) and antimicrobials (13.2%).
Conclusions:
- Medication errors remain a persistent challenge in healthcare settings.
- Inexperienced staff and nurse-patient ratios are potential root causes.
- Targeted training for junior staff and improved nurse workload management are suggested solutions.
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