title: An overview of intravenous-related medication administration errors as reported to MEDMARX, a national medication error-reporting program.
abstract: Medication errors can be harmful, especially if they involve the intravenous (IV) route of administration. A mixed-methodology study using a 5-year review of 73,769 IV-related medication errors from a national medication error reporting program indicates that between 3% and 5% of these errors were harmful. The leading type of error was omission, and the leading cause of error involved clinician performance deficit. Using content analysis, three themes-product shortage, calculation errors, and tubing interconnectivity-emerge and appear to predispose patients to harm. Nurses often participate in IV therapy, and these findings have implications for practice and patient safety. Voluntary medication error-reporting programs afford an opportunity to improve patient care and to further understanding about the nature of IV-related medication errors.
authors.affiliation: United States Pharmacopeia, Center for the Advancement of Patient Safety, Rockville, MD 20852-1790, USA. RH@usp.org
authors.forename: Rodney W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Hicks
authors.forename: Shawn C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Becker
mesh_terms: D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; D015984:Causality; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007275:Injections, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008433:Mathematics; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000600:supply & distribution; D015995:Prevalence; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations