Improvement of medication error reporting: An applied motivation program in pediatric units

The rate of reporting medication errors is lower than the actual rate. The role of education, encouragement, and promotion of reporting culture can contribute to the increase of errors reporting. This study was to investigate the effect of motivational program on reporting of medication errors in the pediatric units.

A quasi-experimental study with pre- and post-test design was done through 60 nurses working in the pediatric wards of the selected hospital in Isfahan, Iran in 2018-2019. Nurses participated in the study through the census sampling method. Data were collected using a questionnaire based on eight medication principles completed by the nurses before and after the intervention. The intervention was conducted through a motivational program in two parts of training and positive reinforcement. Data were analyzed through the descriptive statistics (frequency, mean, and standard deviation [SD]) as well as inferential statistics (Wilcoxon test and paired t-test).

After the intervention, the most medication error reports (60%) were in the principle of right medication (similar name). Furthermore, the total score (SD) of medication error reporting was significantly increased from 7.35 (2.43) before the intervention to 17.04 (5.59) after the intervention, (t = 8.03, P < 0.001).

Motivational program increased medication error reports. Therefore, the managers can improve medication care and the safety of children through continuous education and encouragement in the hospitals.