Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Medication Administration Errors among Internal Medicine Nurses

Askar, Iman Tahseen Elsayed; Hasan, Aida Abdelhamid; Sheta, Samah Samir; Elshamy, Raghda Ali; Elrafey, Dina Sameh

doi:10.21608/zumj.2025.347433.3758

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Medication Administration Errors among Internal Medicine Nurses

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Demonstrator of occupational and environmental medicine, Faculty of Medicine - Zagazig University

² Professor of occupational and environmental medicine, Faculty of Medicine - Zagazig University

³ Assistant Professor of occupational and environmental medicine, Faculty of Medicine - Zagazig University

10.21608/zumj.2025.347433.3758

Abstract

Background: Medication administration errors (MAEs) are more likely to occur because millions of patients receive treatment in hospitals and many health services rely on drugs. This study aimed taimed to identify nature and type of MAEs among internal medicine nurses, assessing levels of knowledge, attitude and practice of internal medicine nurses regarding MAEs, and identifying predictors of knowledge, attitude and practice of internal medicine nurses regarding MAEs.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 167 nurses at internal medicine department at Zagazig University Hospitals (ZUH) (ICU and Inpatient departments) during 2023-2024. A semi structured questionnaire was used to identify sociodemographic, occupational characteristics, knowledge and attitude of nurses regarding MAEs. We used an observational checklist to assess practice of nurses before, during and after drug administration.

Results: The study revealed that 34.7% of participants experienced high knowledge, 24.6% had high attitude and 22.2% had satisfactory practice regards MAEs. Statistically significant associations were found between age, educational level, nature of work and duration of work with knowledge, attitude practice of participants(p<005). Knowledge, attitude practice scores showed significant positive correlation (r=0.43,0.45) (p=0.002,0.001). Also, a significant positive correlation (r=0.4; p=0.004) was found between attitude practice score. By logistic regression, ICU nurses (O.R=1.98, 6.12, 7.4) duration of work(>10 years)(O.R=3.84, 3.3, 3.8)were significant predictors for knowledge, attitude practice.

Conclusion: A low percent of nurses had high levels of knowledge, attitude and practice towards MAEs, so it is recommended to encourage them report any medication error. Also, training courses in medication administration may have good impact.

Keywords