title: Effects of the implementation of a preventive interventions program on the reduction of medication errors in critically ill adult patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
authors: Unidad de Pacientes Críticos, Departamento de Medicina, Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile, Chile.
authors: Carlos M
authors: CM
authors: Romero
authors: Nicole
authors: N
authors: Salazar
authors: Lorena
authors: L
authors: Rojas
authors: Leslie
authors: L
authors: Escobar
authors: Héctor
authors: H
authors: Griñén
authors: María Angélica
authors: MA
authors: Berasaín
authors: Eduardo
authors: E
authors: Tobar
authors: Marcela
authors: M
authors: Jirón
mesh_terms: D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016638:Critical Illness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D061214:Patient Safety; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: ICU; Medication errors; Multidisciplinary team; Pharmacist; Quality; Safety