Medication errors, what healthcare providers think? A Knowledge, Attitude and Practice survey.

Abstract

Objective: Evaluation of knowledge, attitude and practice of healthcare providers about Medication errors.

 

Method: It was a KAP survey conducted with the help of specially designed and pre-validated questionnaire. Doctors', nurses' and pharmacists' awareness and perception about Medication errors were assessed. KAP survey questionnaire was analyzed and their question-wise percentage value was calculated. Data was analysed with One-way ANOVA followed by Dunnets post-hoc test and descriptive statistics were applied whenever necessary.

 

Results: Response rate amongst healthcare providers was satisfactory. Doctors' knowledge and practice were significantly higher compared to the nurses and the pharmacists. Their perception when analysed, revealed that most of the participants consider medication error as an important problem which can be prevented. There is a difference of opinions as regards to the liability for legal punishment to the personnels responsible for such incidences, thus considering it as a crime.

 

Conclusion: There is awareness regarding Medication errors, yet certain circumstances which significantly contribute in occurrence of these events need to be overcome. Regardless of the availability of few solutions, as this area of practice is least approached, further research is warranted in various interventions to deal with the same.

Key words: Awareness, Doctors, Medication errors, Nurses, Pharmacists.