Risk Factors Associated With Medication Errors Among Patients Suffering From Chronic Disorders
Muhammad Fawad Rasoola, Anees ur Rehmana b✉, Imran Imranc, Sameen Abbasd, Shahid Shahe, Ghulam Abbasf, Irfanullah Khanb, Sadia Shakeelb g, Mohamed Azmi Hassalib, Khezar Hayath
- aDepartment of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan
- bDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
- cDepartment of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan
- dDepartment of Pharmacy, Quaid e Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
- eDepartment of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
- fDepartment of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
- gDepartment of Pharmacy Practice, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
- hInstitute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
- ✉Corresponding author
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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.