Medication error reporting attitudes and practices in a regional Australian hospital: a qualitative study

Background

Medication errors are events that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm. Australians living outside metropolitan areas have poorer health outcomes than those living in urban areas. Medication error reporting (MER) practices vary due to the attitude of healthcare professionals (HCPs). MER can improve patient safety in community and hospital settings.

Aim

To explore HCPs' attitudes, practices, and recommendations towards MER in a regional hospital setting in Australia.

Method

Semistructured interviews were employed to identify the attitudes, practices, and recommendations of HCPs for the best utilisation of medication error reports. The study recruited HCPs (nurses, pharmacists, and doctors) working in all clinical areas from November 2021–February 2022. Interviews were recorded and transcribed via thematic analysis. Ethics approval was obtained from the Goulburn Valley Health (GVH) Human Research Ethics Committee (Reference no: GVH 35/21). Informed consent was obtained from participants via an information sheet and completion of a written consent form.

Results

Interviews with twelve HCPs elucidated four themes: barriers and enablers to reporting, and perceived benefits and recommendations for medication error reports. There was good understanding among regional HCPs about the benefits of MER. Attitudes and practices varied, with nurses reporting more medication errors than doctors, and pharmacists being concerned about the impact of reporting on interprofessional relations. Their recommendations involved standardising medication error definition and improving electronic system education.

Conclusion

Despite HCPs' understanding of the role of MER, their practices varied. We recommend improved protected time for learning, training with the incident reporting software, education about medication errors, and formalisation of test feedback to clinicians. The implementation of workplace cultural practice changes to improve organisational systems and enhance error reporting without fear of repercussions, and the adoption of additional solutions such as electronic prescribing are also encouraged.