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Drug administration errors among anaesthesia providers in South Africa: a cross-sectional descriptive study.
- Source :
-
BMC Anesthesiology . 8/3/2024, Vol. 24 Issue 1, p1-9. 9p. - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Background: Drug administration errors (DAEs) in anaesthesia are common, the aetiology multifactorial and though mostly inconsequential, some lead to substantial harm. The extend of DAEs remain poorly quantified and effective implementation of prevention strategies sparse. Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using a peer-reviewed survey questionnaire, circulated to 2217 anaesthetists via a national communication platform. The aim was to determine the self-reported frequency, nature, contributing factors and reporting patterns of DAEs among anaesthesia providers in South Africa. Results: Our cohort had a response rate was 18.9%, with 420 individuals populating the questionnaire. 92.5% of surveyed participants have made a DAE and 89.2% a near-miss. Incorrect route of administration, potentially resulting in serious harm, accounted for 8.2% (n = 23/N = 279) of these errors. DAEs mostly reported in cases involving adult patients (80.5%, n = 243/N = 302), receiving a general anaesthetic (71.8%, n = 216/N = 301), where the drug-administrator prepared the drugs themselves (78.7%, n = 218/N = 277), during normal daytime hours (69.9%, n = 202/N = 289) with good lightning conditions (93.0%, n = 265/N = 285). 26% (n = 80/N = 305) of DAEs involved ampoule misidentification, whilst syringe identification error reported in 51.6% (n = 150/N = 291) of cases. DAEs are often not reported (40.3%, n = 114/N = 283), with knowledge of correct reporting procedures lacking. 70.5% (n = 198/N = 281) of DAEs were never discussed with the patient. Conclusions: DAEs in anaesthesia remain prevalent. Known error traps continue to drive these incidents. Implementation of system based preventative strategies are paramount to guard against human error. Efforts should be made to encourage scrupulous reporting and training of anaesthesia providers, with the aim of rendering them proficient and resilient to handle these events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *SELF-evaluation
*CROSS-sectional method
*LIGHTING
*MEDICATION errors
*RESEARCH funding
*DRUG administration
*QUESTIONNAIRES
*PROFESSIONAL peer review
*DESCRIPTIVE statistics
*SURVEYS
*SYRINGES
*DRUG packaging
*PROFESSIONS
*RESEARCH methodology
*ANESTHETICS
*DOSAGE forms of drugs
*NURSE anesthetists
*REPORT writing
*ANESTHESIA
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14712253
- Volume :
- 24
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- BMC Anesthesiology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 178837776
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12871-024-02657-9