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| Author | Elmira Petrova |
| Abstract | Medication error is a very sentient topic, which is an ever-present problem in the hospital ward. There is a profusion of nursing literature on the topic of medication error, yet there are a limited number of studies exploring nurses' perceptions of medication errors. Moreover, there are no studies carried out on this topic locally so far. Thus, conducting this study has been seen as profoundly important. The aim of this study was to explore nurses' perceptions of medication errors. A descriptive non-experimental quantitative research design was used. The self-administered questionnaire utilized to fulfill the aim of this study was adapted from Osborne, Blais and Hayes's (1999) and Wakefield, Wakefield, Uden-Holman and Blegen's (1996) questionnaires, and based on a literature review. Forty three questionnaires were distributed to all medical wards and thirty eight were received, providing a response rate of 88%. The findings of the study suggest that the nurses are well aware of the importance of following the five rights and double checking of medications as preventive measures of medication errors. However, it appears that there are several possible causes of medication errors, and barriers in reporting them, which hinder the implementation of preventive measures. Additionally, against the background of the results some recommendations were drawn for further research including a large scale study involving widespread hospital areas. Moreover, other suggestions for education, management and practice have been made. |
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| Pages | - |
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| Key words | Nurses, Perception, Medication Errors, Safety, Thesis |