An observational study on the extent of medication administration error in pediatric inpatient ward of Ayder Referral Hospital

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess prescription rationality and most common prescription errors at the asses the

type and the frequency of MAEs in pediatric inpatient ward of Ayder Referral Hospital, Mekelle, Tigray region,

North Ethiopia. Region, North Ethiopia. A retrospective drug utilization review of indication-prescription type was

carried out. A random sample of 208 medical records of patients assisted over a year period, were reviewed.

Prescription appropriateness was evaluated according to the variables: Wrong time error, Wrong dose error, Wrong

administration technique error, Unauthorized drug error, Omitted drug error .Prescriptions were rated as appropriate

(no prescription errors found) or inappropriate (at least one prescription error found). The prescription error rate

revealed by this study addresses the need for strategies to improve prescription’s quality. Introducing pharmacists as a

key part of health care team is a mean proposed to prevent medication errors and to solve the urgency of

pharmaceutical care implementation in the primary care.