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Sep 20, 2022Article Details
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Main Article Content
Linking the processes of medication administration to medication errors in the elderly
Abstract
Background: Older people are more prone to chronic diseases than younger ones and typically receive multiple medications. Medication rounds in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are usually lengthy, with most errors occurring during the administration phase. How nurses apply medication administration processes can affect resident outcomes.
Aim: To determine the processes of medication administration followed by nurses in LTCFs as self-reported by them to identify possible factors associated with medication errors.
Setting: Twenty-eight LTCFs for the elderly in the Western Cape province, South Africa.
Methods: A non-experimental cross-sectional descriptive design was applied, using a quantitative approach. A stratified sampling method obtained equal samples of nurses from funded and private LTCFs, thus N = 123 respondents. Data collection was via selfadministered questionnaires. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS27) was used for descriptive and inferential analysis.
Results: Nurses’ self-reported medication errors such as the sharing of medication between residents (83%), the omission of doses (64.8%), neglecting to sign after medication administration (57%), and medication administered at the wrong time (50.8%). Frequent interruptions during medication rounds were the most common reason for medication errors (75.6%).
Conclusion: Multiple medication administration process errors were self-reported by the nurses. LTCFs should provide mandatory medication training, monitor the adherence to correct medication administration procedures, and implement risk-management strategies.
Contribution: The identified factors associated with medication errors during medication administration processes can assist with developing risk management strategies and policies in the LTCFs and improve evidence-based practice and resident outcomes.
