Table 3 Types of communication affecting medication errors (N = 11,540)
Type of communication | n | % |
|---|---|---|
Misread or unread order | 3726 | 32.3 |
Informal bedside communication (poor/lack of communication at bedside) | 2172 | 18.8 |
Incorrect/inappropriate prescription | 1494 | 12.9 |
No valid prescription for medication | 859 | 7.4 |
Incomplete order | 576 | 5.0 |
Unsigned order or signed in the wrong place therefore appearing as though unsigned | 371 | 3.2 |
Misread or unread label/container | 329 | 2.9 |
Multiple or duplicate medication charts in use, such as one paper chart and one electronic chart or two of same kind of chart | 274 | 2.4 |
Poor or lack of communication within handover | 222 | 1.9 |
Poor communication within medical record documentation | 207 | 1.8 |
Duplicate order on medication chart | 195 | 1.7 |
Ambiguous order | 150 | 1.3 |
Misinterpreted order | 141 | 1.2 |
Prescribed in the wrong place of chart or on the wrong type of chart | 73 | 0.6 |
Poor telephone communication | 67 | 0.6 |
Illegible handwriting | 44 | 0.4 |
Wrong unit of measurement placed on medication order | 25 | 0.2 |
Poor/lack of communication during ward round | 14 | 0.1 |
Wrong placement of decimal point on medication order | 5 | 0.04 |
No direct communication cause identified | 596 | 5.2 |
Medication errors due to electronic systems | ||
 Prescribing processes using electronic systems | 562 | 4.9 |
 Dispensing processes using electronic systems | 61 | 0.5 |
 Administration processes using electronic systems | 324 | 2.8 |