Perioperative medication error: a retrospective survey among junior residents of five teaching hospitals of india

Author: 
Dr Aparna Shukla

Introduction- Medication errors in the operating room poses significant risk to patients and adverse effects can vary from minor systemic changes to life threatening complications. This study was undertaken in five teaching medical colleges and hospitals in india. Total 130 residents participated in the study.
Aims And Objectives- This retrospective study was undertaken to1.Find the frequency of inadvertent wrong drug administration 2.Cause of inadverdent wrong drug administration in the peripoerative period. 3. To identify effect of training on medication error 4. Identify any complication occuring due to medication error.
Method- A questionnaire was prepared. Junior residents of the selected institutions were given a anonymous form and they were asked whether they have given any wrong drug anytime during their existing junior residency period of one year and if so, details were noted like possible cause and adverse outcome.
Result- 75 out of 130 residents [57.69%] confessed that they have given wrong drug/doses at least once in their existing junior residency period. However incidence decreased with seniority. Highest [80%] among JR1and lowest 15% among JR2.Most common cause of medication error was long duty hours and large number of casses leading to lack of sleep. Tendency of not labelling the drug or wrong labelling was second cause of medication error as reported by the residents.
Major medication error was syringe swap reported by 80 residents among total 130. Conclusion- Improved medication safety requires a system-wide approach and standardization of drug preparation and dispensing at the level of anaesthesiologist as well as at the level of the institution. Continuous training and checking of medical students is need of the hour. Time to time monitoring and reporting of these errors is needed and should be made mandatory to monitor the impact of safety measures applied. It will also help in developing institutional protocol regarding drug safety.

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DOI: 
http://dx.doi.org/10.24327/ijcar.2020. 21906.4312
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