Risk Factors Associated With Medication Errors Among Patients Suffering From Chronic Disorders
Muhammad Fawad Rasool, Anees ur Rehman, Imran Imran, Sameen Abbas, Shahid Shah, Ghulam Abbas, Irfanullah Khan, Sadia Shakeel, Mohamed Azmi Hassali, Khezar Hayat
Abstract
Introduction: Medication errors are more common in patients suffering from chronic diseases. In under-developed countries like Pakistan overburden healthcare system, lack of disease-surveillance system, and shortage of healthcare staff are potential risk factors for medication errors. Objective: to assess the prevalence and risk factors associated with medication errors among patients suffering from chronic disorders in hospitals of south Punjab, Pakistan. Methodology: Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the impact of different risk factors on prevalence of medication errors in patients suffering from chronic diseases. Results: A greater risk for occurrence of medication errors was associated with age ≥ 60 years (OR = 1.9; 95 % CI=1.3–3.1; p=0.001), Overburden (OR = 2.2; 95% CI=1.64-3.56; P<0.000), No. of prescribed drugs ≥ 5 (OR =1.74; 95% CI=1.02-2.64; p<0.000), comorbidities ≥ 3 (OR=2.6; 95% CI=1.72-3.6; p=0.003 ), CCI ≥ 1 (OR=1.31; 95% CI=0.49-1.84; p=0.004), and multiple prescribers to one patient (OR=1.12; 95% CI=0.64-1.76; p=0.001). Conclusion: Reduction of complexity in the act of prescribing by the introduction of automation, improved prescriber’s knowledge by education, use of on-line aid, and feedback control systems can help in the reduction of medication errors.