Medication errors among health professionals in Nigeria: A national survey

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Ogunleye, Olayinka O.^{a; b; *} | Oreagba, Ibrahim A.^c | Falade, Catherine^d | Isah, Ambrose^e | Enwere, Okezie^f | Olayemi, Sunday^c | Ogundele, Sunday O.^a | Obiako, Reginald^g | Odesanya, Rachel^h | Bassi, Peterⁱ | Obodo, John^j | Kilani, Jelili^k | Ekoja, Mathew^l

Affiliations: [a] Department of Pharmacology, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria | [b] Department of Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria | [c] Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria | [d] Clinical Pharmacology Department, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria | [e] Department of Medicine, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin-City, Nigeria | [f] Department of Medicine, Imo State University Teaching Hospital, Orlu, Imo State, Nigeria | [g] Department of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria | [h] Department of Pharmacy, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria | [i] Department of Medicine, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri, Nigeria | [j] Department of Medicine, Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Asaba, Nigeria | [k] National Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria | [l] Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, Nigeria

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Dr. Olayinka O. Ogunleye, Department of Pharmacology, Lagos State University College of Medicine and Department of Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, 1-5, Oba Akinjobi Street, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, Nigeria. Tel.: +234 805 335 7057; E-mail: yinkabode@yahoo.com.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Medication errors are preventable causes of patient harm with significant contributions to adverse drug events but they remain understudied in Nigeria. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of self-reported medication errors among health professionals and examine their knowledge of medication errors with the hope of identifying appropriate measures to promote medication safety. METHODS: A cross sectional survey among doctors, pharmacists and nurses in 10 tertiary hospitals. Information was obtained using a self-administered structured questionnaire. Correct responses evaluating the knowledge of prescription, dispensing and administration errors were scored one mark each and the composite scores computed. Appropriate statistics were applied to summarize and establish the relationship between variables at 5% level of significance using SPSS 17.0. RESULTS: A total of 2,386 professionals participated in the study (46.3% nurses, 44.9% doctors, 8.8% pharmacists).The prevalence of self-reported medication errors was 47%. The professional groups differ in their knowledge of all the aspects of medication errors with professional cadres influencing knowledge. Overwork was the most reason for being error prone (59.2%) and only 35.5% had ever reported medication error. 33.4% did not think reporting was necessary. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of medication errors is high among health care professionals in Nigeria. Knowledge gaps and practice deficiencies were identified requiring interventions.

Keywords: Medication errors, health professionals, Nigeria

DOI: 10.3233/JRS-160721

Journal: International Journal of Risk & Safety in Medicine, vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 77-91, 2016