Clinical Audit of Nurses' Medication Errors During COVID-19

Sepahvand, Leila; Raufi, Shahin; Mohamadi, Rasool; Heidarizadeh, Khadijeh

doi:10.22087/ijac.2022.483004.1022

Clinical Audit of Nurses' Medication Errors During COVID-19

Document Type : Research

Authors

Leila Sepahvand ¹

Shahin Raufi ²

Rasool Mohamadi ³

Khadijeh Heidarizadeh ⁴

¹ Student Research Committee, Nursing and Midwifery School, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran

² Social Determinants of Health Research Centre, Shahid Rahimi Hospital, School of Nursing & Midwifery, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran

³ Nutritional Health Research Center, School of Health and Nutrition, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran

⁴ Critical Care and Emergency Nursing, Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran

10.22087/ijac.2022.483004.1022

Abstract

Medication errors in nursing can adversely affect the quality of healthcare services and the public's perception of the healthcare system, potentially leading to increased treatment costs, severe injuries, and even patient fatalities. This quasi-experimental study, utilizing a before-after design with a comparison group based on a clinical audit approach, was conducted in 2022 at two teaching hospitals affiliated with Lorestan University of Medical Sciences. A total of 40 clinical nurses from the COVID-19 emergency departments of Shahid Rahimi Hospital (intervention group) and Shohadaye Ashayer Hospital (comparison group) were selected. Data collection was performed via direct observation using a researcher-developed checklist for correct medication administration principles. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with SPSS software version 25. In total, 240 medication rounds were observed. The highest mean error rates in both groups were observed in the administration of infusion medication (20.05-21.00), intramuscular injections (19.15–19.45), medication preparation (19.00–19.40), and intravenous injections (15.10-15.90). Prior to the intervention, no significant differences were noted between the control and intervention groups. However, post-intervention, the mean medication errors for all assessed factors were significantly reduced in the intervention group (P<0.001), while the comparison group showed no substantial changes. The findings indicate that medication education interventions based on clinical audits significantly reduce medication errors. It is recommended that nursing managers address human resource issues, conduct workshops, and provide in-service training on medication preparation, side effects, and pharmaceutical knowledge.

Keywords

Medication errors

COVID-19 patients

Clinical audit

Nursing staff

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