Medication administration is a crucial part in nursing. Having a study concerning the contributing factors that lead to medication error is important as this study creates awareness about the medication error and its consequences will affect patient’s safety. Descriptive study design was used as research design. Study conducted in HALIBET hospital, Asmara, Eritrea. Simple random sampling was used to collect the samples; the total sample size was 82 associate nurses from Halibet hospital. The data was collected by using self administered questionnaire. The results showed that out of 82 associate nurse majority (59.7%) were having adequate knowledge on practice, 39.1% were having moderate knowledge on practice and 1.2% were having inadequate knowledge on practice. Regarding the causes of medication error25.6% nurses stated personal issue, 24.4% were stated workload, 19.5% stated knowledge, 14.6% stated complicated order, 11.0% stated unfamiliarity with medication, 4.9% were stated lack of staff as main cause of medication error.
Medication administration is a crucial part in nursing. Having a study concerning the contributing factors that lead to medication error is important as this study creates awareness about the medication error and its consequences will affect patient’s safety. There are many type of medical error that leads to injury and may jeopardize patient’s safety. According to Hughes and Ortiz (2005), the most common type of medical error, that happen universally is medication error. Medication errors were estimated to account for more than 7,000 deaths annually [4].
To assess the level of knowledge on practice of safe medication administration and to identify the contributing factors to medication error among the nurses.
To assess the level of knowledge on practice of safe medication administration.
To identify contributing factor for medication error.
To assess the demographic variable.
To assess whether the nurses know to administer medication at the right time.
There will be a significant difference in administering medication by the nurses in Halibet Hospital.
Descriptive study design was used. It was conducted in HALIBET hospital, Asmara, Eritrea. Simple random sampling was used to collect the samples; the total sample size was 82 associate nurses from Halibet hospital. The pilot study was conducted at Orotta national referral hospital. The data was collected over a period of 4 weeks by using self administered questionnaire. The data was organized in frequency distribution table, analyzed in terms of percentage and presented in different tables and graphs based on the type of data.
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| 20-35 year | 70 | 85.3% | |
| 36-50 year | 8 | 9.8% | |
| 51-65 year | 4 | 4.9% | |
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| Male | 24 | 29.3% |
| Female | 58 | 70.7% |
n=82
Table 2 shows that majority of the associate nurses (70.7%) were female and 29.3% were male
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| 1-3 year | 47 | 57.3% |
| 4-6 year | 19 | 23.2% |
| >6 years | 16 | 19.5% |
n=82
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7.3% |
| workshop | 35 | 42.7% |
| no | 40 | 50% |
n=82
Table 4 shows out of all associate nurse majorities (50%) were not attended any lecture regarding medication administration, 42.7% were attending workshop on it and 7.3% were attending seminar on medication administration.
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| Adequate | 49 | 59.7% |
| Moderate | 32 | 39.1% |
| Inadequate | 1 | 1.2% |
n=82
Table 5 shows out of 82 associate nurse majority (59.7%) were having adequate knowledge on practice, (39.1%) were having moderate knowledge on practice and (1.2%) were having inadequate knowledge on practice.
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| personal issue | 21 | 25.6% |
| Workload | 20 | 24.4% |
| Knowledge | 16 | 19.5% |
| complicated order | 12 | 14.6% |
| unfamiliarity with medication | 9 | 11.0% |
| lack of staff | 4 | 4.9% |
n=82
Table 6 show out of all associate nurse
n=87
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| Always | 68 | 82.9% |
| Usually | 8 | 9.8% |
| Sometimes | 2 | 2.4% |
| Never | 4 | 4.9% |
Table 7 shows majority of the associate nurses (82.9%) always ensure that the medication is administered at the right time, 9.8% usually, 2.4% sometimes and 4.9% never ensure that the medication is administered at the right time.
From the research, participants were having adequate knowledge on practice in administering medication. So majority of the associate nurses in Halibet hospital have adequate knowledge on practicing medication administration safely thereby improving patient safety.
The findings of this study conclude that all the factors listed have it own percentage leading to medication error. Personal issues are the most contributing factor lead to medication error and follow by workload, knowledge, complicated order, unfamiliarity of medication and lack of staffs. Although the majority of respondent considered nurses personal issues (personal neglect) as the incident lead to medication errors.
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