IDENTIFICATION AND ANALYSIS OF MEDICATION ERRORS IN SIX BRAZILIAN HOSPITAL

Abstract

This study identified medication errors that occurred at the medical clinics of 6 Brazilian hospitals, using direct observation. The sample consisted of doses prescribed and administered at the clinics, which were observed during the data collection period, respecting a minimum of 35 doses/day, during a 30-day period. The results evidenced that: 1.7% of the administered medication was different from the prescribed drugs; 4.8% of the administered doses were different from the prescriptions; 1.5% of the medication was administered through routes different from the prescriptions; 0.3% of patients received non-authorized medication; about 7.4% of the medication were administered more than 1 h after and 2.2% more than 1 h before the prescribed medication time.