Medication errors in practice: A mixed-methods study from Diwan Polyclinic-Muscat

OBJECTIVE: To explore healthcare professionals' experiences with medication errors (MEs) in terms of types and factors that contribute to them. DESIGN: A mixed-methods study was conducted to explore the MEs experiences of healthcare professionals. Quantitative data were collected through a cross-sectional, self-administered questionnaire, whereas qualitative data were collected via face-to-face semi-structured interviews. SETTING: The study was conducted at Diwan Polyclinic in Muscat, a primary and secondary healthcare institute. PARTICIPANTS: The study population included healthcare workers who were practising (not retired) and actively involved in patient care and the medication-use cycle, either by prescribing, dispensing or administering medication. The total number of participants was 83 (55 females and 28 males) healthcare professionals, comprising doctors (38), nurses (32), pharmacists and assistant pharmacists (13). Omani participants accounted for 72%, whereas non-Omani participants accounted for 28%. Six of 83 healthcare professionals were purposefully selected to provide additional qualitative insights into their experiences with MEs and the measures they use to reduce them. INTERVENTIONS: None. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcomes focused on identifying types, causes and effects of MEs, and the secondary outcomes aimed to explore the emotional and professional implications on healthcare workers as well as suggested strategies to minimise MEs. RESULTS: A total of 83 participants (55 females and 28 males) were included, with 72% Omani and 28% non-Omani. Of these, 44 participants (53%) encountered MEs during their practice at Diwan Polyclinic. The most common type of MEs was prescribing errors (51%), followed by dispensing errors (39%) and administering errors (10%). Incorrect dosing was the most typical cause of prescribing errors.In the qualitative part of the study, the interviewed participants implemented these measures to reduce MEs: 1) double-checking the prescribed medicines, patients 'names and identity before dispensing and administering drugs, 2) patient education on polypharmacy and 3) alerting prescribing doctors to errors in their prescriptions or orders. Several measures have been suggested to mitigate MEs, including better communication among health professionals and between them and patients, focusing on staff well-being and development and innovative built-in modules and programmes in electronic medical records for drug verification. CONCLUSION: The most common type of MEs was prescribing errors. Focusing on better communication and staff well-being, as well as the innovative development of electronic medical records, will help minimise MEs.