Abstract:
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Medication administration errors (MAEs) are common health problems that threaten
patient safety and raise mortality rates, duration of hospital stay, and cost of services. It also influences
healthcare professionals performing the procedure and healthcare organizations. Its prevalence in
Ethiopia is high ranging from 51.8% to 90.8%.
Objective: This study aimed to assess the magnitude and associated factors of MAE among nurses at
Northwest Amhara Region Referral Hospitals.
Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February to March 2019. A
simple random sampling technique was employed to select 348 nurses. Structured pretested selfadministered questionnaires and an observational checklist were used to collect data. The data were
entered in Epi-info version 7, analyzed using SPSS version 20 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL), and presented in
tables and graphs. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions were computed to identify the factors associated with MAEs. p Values <.05 and adjusted odds ratios were used to declare the significance and strength of the association.
Results: One hundred and seventy-eight (54%) of the respondents made MAEs in the last 12 months.
Only 10 (5%) of the 200 observed nurses were administered medications without any breach in any of
the six rights of medication administration. Factors like poor knowledge (AOR ¼ 5.98; 95% CI
(2.39,14.94)), poor communication (AOR ¼ 2.94; 95% CI (1.34, 6.46)), stress (AOR ¼ 5.41; 95% CI (2.53,
11.57)), interruption during medication administration (AOR ¼ 4.70, 95% CI (2.42, 9.10)), and night shift
(AOR ¼ 2.79, 95% CI (1.42, 5.46)) were significantly associated with MAE.
Conclusions: The magnitude of MAE was high. Poor knowledge, poor communication, stress, night
shift, and interruption were significantly associated with MAEs. Strengthening institutional medication
administration regulations and guidelines and minimizing interruption during medication administration would help minimize MAEs
