Drug administration practices of anaesthesia practitioners at Kenyatta national hospital
Abstract
Background: Patient safety is a serious global public health concern. The
delivery of healthcare worldwide is challenged by a wide variety of safety
problems. Iatrogenic harm through medication errors is one of these
problems. Drug errors are of particular concern in anaesthesia as drug
administration is a core clinical activity for anaesthesia practitioners. The
study aimed to determine the drug administration practices of anaesthesia
practitioners at KNH and the methods used to prevent drug errors.
Methodology: This was a prospective cross sectional study carried out in the
Kenyatta National Hospital. Data was collected through observing the
practice used by anaesthesia practitioners in the preparation, administration
and storage of drugs in the anaesthesia workspace. Data analysis was
analysed using SPSS version 20 as per the research objectives.
Results: A total of 260 anaesthetic procedures were observed. Syringe
labelling at 94.6% was the most common method used by anaesthesia
practitioners to prevent drug errors. The common drug errors were incorrect
drug dose, wrong drug, lack of asepsis and inaccurate documentation of
drugs administered. Drugs involved in drug errors included: neuromuscular
blocking agents, antibiotics, lignocaine and epinephrine.
Conclusion: Anaesthesia practitioners at KNH are aware of the risk of drug
errors during the administration of anaesthesia and use measures to prevent
the drug errors. Standardisation of the practice of anaesthesia drug
preparation, administration and storage of drugs in the KNH is required
Publisher
University of Nairobi