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Table 5 Univariate logistic regression for explanatory factors of medication errors associated with causing possible or probable harm (N = 11,540)

From: Associations of person-related, environment-related and communication-related factors on medication errors in public and private hospitals: a retrospective clinical audit

 

Reference level

Comparator level

Odds ratio

95% confidence intervals

p-value

Person-related factors

 Individual responsible for the medication error

Nurse or midwife

Doctor

0.446

0.407–0.489

< 0.001

Nurse or midwife

Pharmacist

0.286

0.236–0.347

< 0.001

Nurse or midwife

Patient or family

0.761

0.586–0.987

0.039

 Involvement of patient or family in identifying medication error

No

Yes

1.024

0.896–1.170

0.730

 Insufficient counselling of patient

No

Yes

2.619

1.943–3.529

< 0.001

 Age of patient

Younger than 65 years

65 years and above

1.504

1.390–1.627

< 0.001

Environment-related factors

 Patient movement across transitions of care

No

Yes

1.068

0.878–1.298

0.511

 Interruptions

No

Yes

1.940

1.382–2.725

< 0.001

 Covering personnel

No

Yes

1.855

1.396–2.464

< 0.001

 Medication checking

Single checked

Double checked

1.083

0.993–1.180

0.071

Communication-related factors

 Misread or unread order

No

Yes

2.562

2.333–2.812

< 0.001

 Informal bedside conversations

No

Yes

1.003

0.908–1.109

0.951

 Error related to clinical handover

No

Yes

1.433

1.054–1.948

0.022

 Error related to prescribing processes using electronic systems

No

Yes

0.386

0.325–0.458

< 0.001

 Error related to electronic dispensing processes

No

Yes

0.210

0.122–0.362

< 0.001

 Error related to use of electronic systems to administer the medication

No

Yes

0.936

0.740–1.183

0.579