Medication errors reported in a pediatric intensive care unit for oncologic patients

Abstract

Background: Considering all sources of errors that may occur during healthcare, medication errors are the most common and also the most frequent cause of adverse events.

Objective: The objective of the study was to describe the medication errors reported in a pediatric intensive care unit for oncologic patients.

Methods: This is a descriptive and exploratory study. The errors were reported by the professionals involved in the medication system in a medication error report form developed for the study.

Results: The sample consisted of 110 medication errors reported on 71 forms. The omission error was the most common error type reported (22.7%), followed by administration error (18.2%). No harm to patients was reported in 83.1% of the notifications.

Conclusion: The analysis of the110 medication errors provides evidence of the context of their occurrence and the need to implement measures that can prevent or intercept these errors.

Implications for practice: In an institution without adverse events report and a formal system to patient safety analysis, the implementation of a local nonpunitive approach to medication errors notification represented an important tool to patient safety promotion.