Data were collected on the number, type, and clinical importance of errors in the preparation and administration of intravenous drugs over 6-10 consecutive days on 10 wards in two UK hospitals. A total of 1,042 doses were prescribed for 106 patients during the study.
Errors occurred in almost half of the intravenous drug doses. Preparation errors occurred in 32 doses (7%), administration errors in 155 doses (36%), and both types of error in 25 doses (6%). Errors were potentially harmful in about a third of cases.
The most common errors were giving concentrated (bolus) doses too quickly and mistakes in preparing drugs that required multiple steps.
A combination of reducing the amount of preparation on the ward, staff training, and technology to administer slow bolus doses would probably have the greatest effect on error rates, conclude the authors.