Addressing Critical Mistakes in Administering Intravenous Medications at Omdurman Military Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan.

Abstract

Objective: Errors in the preparation and administration of intravenous medications are significant contributors to morbidity and mortality rates in medical practice. Early reporting and the implementation of preventive measures can mitigate these errors. This study aims to identify patterns and frequencies of errors in IV medication preparation and administration, along with associated factors, at Omdurman Military Hospital in Khartoum, Sudan.

Methods: This observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in the emergency department of Omdurman Military Hospital from January to May 2022. We observed 60 nurses responsible for intravenous drug preparation and administration using a pretested questionnaire and checklist on multiple occasions. The data was analyzed by SPSS and the descriptive and inferential statistics were applied.

Results: Our findings reveal that 98% of the nurses reported a lack of formal training in IV drug preparation and administration. The observed preparation area was characterized as untidy in 59.6% of observations, and 52.5% were conducted in crowded environments. We identified six distinct types of errors during drug preparation, with the most common being the absence of aseptic techniques (63.2%) and the failure to check drug expiry dates before administration (99%). In contrast, five types of administration errors were reported, with the most prevalent being incorrect administration rates (68.7%) and the absence of post-administration side-effect assessments (84.8%). Additionally, 83.3% of nurses did not label the unused portion of a drug intended for the next dose.

Conclusion: This study identifies a total of 11 different types of errors in IV drug preparation and administration, some of which are associated with the hospital's work environment. The lack of formal training among 98% of the nurses stands out as a significant contributor to the increasing frequency of these errors.