Exploring the prevalence of medication errors in Kuwaiti hospitals

Abstract

Objective: Reducing medication errors in Kuwaiti government hospitals through pharmacovigilance involves the improvement of medication safety culture achieve the desired outcome. The study explored the medication management practices in Kuwaiti hospitals and made recommendations for the improvement of medication safety practices. The aim of the study was to investigate the extent of medication errors in Kuwaiti government hospitals.

Methods: Medical records and systems audits, healthcare professionals’ observation study, healthcare professionals survey. Data was collected from paper records, electronic records and systems and the observation study. Data was then analysed quantitatively and qualitatively.

Results: The study revealed important results at all five steps of the medication process. The audit revealed nearly half of the errors identified to have occurred during the prescribing stage.

Conclusion: The study revealed important results at all five steps of the medication process. The audit revealed nearly half of the errors identified to have occurred during the prescribing stage. The study highlights the need for an IT based, no-blame incident reports to be implemented and utilised in investigating adverse events and medication errors across the multiple sites in the Kuwaiti healthcare setting to guide reduction strategies and further improve standards of medication safety.