Identifying the latent failures underpinning medication administration errors: an exploratory study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The primary aim of this article was to identify the latent failures that are perceived to underpin medication errors.

Study setting

The study was conducted within three medical wards in a hospital in the United Kingdom.

Study design

The study employed a cross-sectional qualitative design.

Data collection methods

Interviews were conducted with 12 nurses and eight managers. Interviews were transcribed and subject to thematic content analysis. A two-step inter-rater comparison tested the reliability of the themes.

Principal findings

Ten latent failures were identified based on the analysis of the interviews. These were ward climate, local working environment, workload, human resources, team communication, routine procedures, bed management, writt

SUBMITTER: Lawton R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3401393 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature