Prevalence of Medication Errors in the Medicine Department of a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Medication Errors (ME) pose a major global threat to patient safety, causing adverse drug effects, increased morbidity and mortality, and higher healthcare costs while eroding patient trust. In the Medicine Department of a tertiary care teaching hospital in Eastern India, the prevalence of MEs lacks comprehensive documentation, thereby hindering targeted interventions. Aim: To evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of MEs within the Medicine Department of a tertiary care teaching hospital. Materials and Methods: This Institution-based cross-sectional observational study was conducted in the Departments of General Medicine and Pharmacology of a tertiary care teaching hospital of MGM Medical College and LSK Hospital, Kishanganj, Bihar, India, from March 2024 to February 2025. Data from 3,056 patient cases were collected through direct observation, covering prescribing, administration, transcription, and dispensing errors. Severity was classified using the National Coordinating Council for ME Reporting and Prevention’s (NCCMERP) Index. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and subgroup analyses with SPSS version 21.0 and Microsoft Excel, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: Overall ME prevalence was 9.26% (283/3,056 cases), highest in the 51-60 years age group (31.8%). Prescribing errors dominated 131 cases (46.3%), followed by administration 63 (22.3%), transcription (50, 17.7%), and dispensation (38, 13.6%) errors- all highly significant (p<0.001). Key prescribing factors: error-prone abbreviations (14%) and illegible handwriting (12%). Most errors 164 cases, (58%) were categorised as “Error, No Harm” (Categories B–D) according to the NCC MERP index. Antibiotics (15%), Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) (12%),and multivitamins (11%) were most frequently associated with medication errors. Conclusion: Prescription errors are prevalent in this setting, especially among middle-aged patients. Targeted interventionsimproving prescription legibility, abbreviation use, transcription, and administration- are crucial. Collaborative efforts focusing on antibiotics and analgesics will enhance safety and reduce adverse outcomes.