Effects of the implementation of a preventive interventions program on the reduction of medication errors in critically ill adult patients

Purpose: Medication errors (MEs) are a major factor limiting the effectiveness and safety of pharmacological therapies in critically ill patients. The purpose was to determine if a preventive interventions program (PIP) is associated with a significant reduction on prevalence of patients with MEs in intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: A prospective before-after study was conducted in a random sample of adult patients in a medical-surgical ICU. Between 2 observational phases, a PIP (bundle of interventions to reduce MEs) was implemented by a multidisciplinary team. Direct observation was used to detect MEs at baseline and postintervention. Each medication process, that is, prescription, transcription, dispensing, preparation, and administration, was compared with what the prescriber ordered; if there was a difference, the error was described and categorized. Medication errors were defined according to the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention.

Results: A total of 410 medications for 278 patients were evaluated. A 31.7% decrease on the prevalence of patients with MEs (41.9%-28.6%; P < .05) was seen. Main variations occurred in anti-infectives for systemic use and prescription and administration stage.

Conclusions: The implementation of PIP by a multidisciplinary team resulted in a significant reduction on the prevalence of patients with ME at an adult ICU.