Medication Errors in a Swiss Cardiovascular Surgery Department: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on a Novel Medication Error Report Method

The purpose of this study was (1) to determine frequency and type of medication errors (MEs), (2) to assess the number of MEs prevented by registered nurses, (3) to assess the consequences of ME for patients, and (4) to compare the number of MEs reported by a newly developed medication error self-re...

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Main Authors: Kaspar Küng, Thierry Carrel, Brigitte Wittwer, Sandra Engberg, Natalie Zimmermann, René Schwendimann
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2013-01-01
Series:Nursing Research and Practice
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/671820
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author Kaspar Küng
Thierry Carrel
Brigitte Wittwer
Sandra Engberg
Natalie Zimmermann
René Schwendimann
author_facet Kaspar Küng
Thierry Carrel
Brigitte Wittwer
Sandra Engberg
Natalie Zimmermann
René Schwendimann
author_sort Kaspar Küng
collection DOAJ
description The purpose of this study was (1) to determine frequency and type of medication errors (MEs), (2) to assess the number of MEs prevented by registered nurses, (3) to assess the consequences of ME for patients, and (4) to compare the number of MEs reported by a newly developed medication error self-reporting tool to the number reported by the traditional incident reporting system. We conducted a cross-sectional study on ME in the Cardiovascular Surgery Department of Bern University Hospital in Switzerland. Eligible registered nurses () involving in the medication process were included. Data on ME were collected using an investigator-developed medication error self reporting tool (MESRT) that asked about the occurrence and characteristics of ME. Registered nurses were instructed to complete a MESRT at the end of each shift even if there was no ME. All MESRTs were completed anonymously. During the one-month study period, a total of 987 MESRTs were returned. Of the 987 completed MESRTs, 288 (29%) indicated that there had been an ME. Registered nurses reported preventing 49 (5%) MEs. Overall, eight (2.8%) MEs had patient consequences. The high response rate suggests that this new method may be a very effective approach to detect, report, and describe ME in hospitals.
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spelling doaj-art-2cd396166b284e1d8da6f7b80bab12972025-08-20T03:55:02ZengWileyNursing Research and Practice2090-14292090-14372013-01-01201310.1155/2013/671820671820Medication Errors in a Swiss Cardiovascular Surgery Department: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on a Novel Medication Error Report MethodKaspar Küng0Thierry Carrel1Brigitte Wittwer2Sandra Engberg3Natalie Zimmermann4René Schwendimann5Institute of Nursing Science, University of Basel, Bernoullistraß 28, 4056 Basel, SwitzerlandDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital of Bern, Freiburgstraß 1, 3000 Bern, SwitzerlandDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital of Bern, Freiburgstraß 1, 3000 Bern, SwitzerlandDepartment of Health Promotion and Development, School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, 350 Victoria Building, 3500 Victoria Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USADepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital of Bern, Freiburgstraß 1, 3000 Bern, SwitzerlandInstitute of Nursing Science, University of Basel, Bernoullistraß 28, 4056 Basel, SwitzerlandThe purpose of this study was (1) to determine frequency and type of medication errors (MEs), (2) to assess the number of MEs prevented by registered nurses, (3) to assess the consequences of ME for patients, and (4) to compare the number of MEs reported by a newly developed medication error self-reporting tool to the number reported by the traditional incident reporting system. We conducted a cross-sectional study on ME in the Cardiovascular Surgery Department of Bern University Hospital in Switzerland. Eligible registered nurses () involving in the medication process were included. Data on ME were collected using an investigator-developed medication error self reporting tool (MESRT) that asked about the occurrence and characteristics of ME. Registered nurses were instructed to complete a MESRT at the end of each shift even if there was no ME. All MESRTs were completed anonymously. During the one-month study period, a total of 987 MESRTs were returned. Of the 987 completed MESRTs, 288 (29%) indicated that there had been an ME. Registered nurses reported preventing 49 (5%) MEs. Overall, eight (2.8%) MEs had patient consequences. The high response rate suggests that this new method may be a very effective approach to detect, report, and describe ME in hospitals.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/671820
spellingShingle Kaspar Küng
Thierry Carrel
Brigitte Wittwer
Sandra Engberg
Natalie Zimmermann
René Schwendimann
Medication Errors in a Swiss Cardiovascular Surgery Department: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on a Novel Medication Error Report Method
Nursing Research and Practice
title Medication Errors in a Swiss Cardiovascular Surgery Department: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on a Novel Medication Error Report Method
title_full Medication Errors in a Swiss Cardiovascular Surgery Department: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on a Novel Medication Error Report Method
title_fullStr Medication Errors in a Swiss Cardiovascular Surgery Department: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on a Novel Medication Error Report Method
title_full_unstemmed Medication Errors in a Swiss Cardiovascular Surgery Department: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on a Novel Medication Error Report Method
title_short Medication Errors in a Swiss Cardiovascular Surgery Department: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on a Novel Medication Error Report Method
title_sort medication errors in a swiss cardiovascular surgery department a cross sectional study based on a novel medication error report method
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/671820
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