Table 4 Human factors and contributing factors identified from medication errors (N = 11,540)

Performance deficit

8462

73.3

Inadequate screening/assessment of patient

1701

14.7

Knowledge deficit

548

4.7

Error in dispensing/stocking

417

3.6

Miscalculation of dose or infusion rate

154

1.3

Failure to activate delivery system properly

68

0.6

Stress

62

0.5

Intimidating behaviour

58

0.5

Wrong amount of active medication used

39

0.3

Fatigue or lack of sleep

13

0.1

Wrong diluent used for infusion

9

0.08

Wrong amount of diluent used

6

0.05

Wrong medication added to infusion

3

0.03

 Policies and procedures

9510

82.4

 Patient transfers

494

4.3

 Lack of floor stock

424

3.7

 Insufficient or incorrect counselling to patients and family

336

2.9

 Covering personnel

299

2.6

 Frequent interruptions and distractions

214

1.9

 High patient acuity and workload

186

1.6

 Lack of staff

42

0.4

 Inadequate training

35

0.3