Table 2.
The perception of the causes of MAEs among critical care nurses in tertiary hospitals, Kelantan (n = 424).
| Items | Strongly disagree, n (%) | Moderately disagree, n (%) | Slightly disagree, n (%) | Slightly agree, n (%) | Moderately agree, n (%) | Strongly agree, n (%) | Mean ± SD∗ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (1) The names of many medications are similar | 43 (10.1) | 38 (9.0) | 37 (8.7) | 124 (29.2) | 102 (24.1) | 80 (18.9) | 4.05 ± 1.54 |
| (2) Different medications look alike | 29 (6.8) | 27 (6.4) | 44 (10.4) | 90 (21.2) | 123 (29.0) | 111 (26.2) | 4.38 ± 1.47 |
| (3) The packaging of many medications is similar | 30 (7.1) | 26 (6.1) | 46 (10.8) | 103 (24.3) | 117 (27.6) | 102 (24.1) | 4.31 ± 1.46 |
| (4) Physicians' medication orders are not legible | 16 (3.8) | 29 (6.8) | 47 (11.1) | 117 (27.6) | 110 (25.9) | 105 (24.8) | 4.39 ± 1.35 |
| (5) Physicians' medication orders are not clear | 14 (3.3) | 38 (9.0) | 58 (13.7) | 112 (26.4) | 113 (26.7) | 89 (21.0) | 4.27 ± 1.35 |
| (6) Physicians change orders frequently | 31 (7.3) | 39 (9.2) | 60 (14.2) | 123 (29.0) | 110 (25.9) | 61 (14.4) | 4.00 ± 1.42 |
| (7) Abbreviations are used instead of writing the orders out completely | 44 (10.4) | 54 (12.7) | 69 (16.3) | 113 (26.7) | 82 (19.3) | 62 (14.6) | 3.76 ± 1.53 |
| (8) Verbal orders are used instead of written orders | 46 (10.8) | 57 (13.4) | 60 (14.2) | 90 (21.2) | 90 (21.2) | 81 (19.1) | 3.86 ± 1.62 |
| (9) The pharmacy delivers incorrect doses to this unit | 100 (32.6) | 110 (25.9) | 88 (20.8) | 76 (17.9) | 41 (9.9) | 8 (1.9) | 2.70 ± 1.37 |
| (10) The pharmacy does not prepare the medication correctly | 117 (27.6) | 114 (26.9) | 85 (20.0) | 72 (17.0) | 30 (7.1) | 6 (1.4) | 2.53 ± 1.32 |
| (11) The pharmacy does not label the medication correctly | 141 (33.3) | 108 (25.5) | 85 (20.0) | 63 (14.9) | 21 (5.0) | 6 (1.4) | 2.37 ± 1.29 |
| (12) Pharmacists are not available 24 hours a day | 211 (49.8) | 105 (24.8) | 59 (13.9) | 27 (6.4) | 17 (4.0) | 5 (1.2) | 1.94 ± 1.20 |
| (13) Frequent substitution of drugs (i.e., cheaper generic for brand names) | 59 (13.9) | 76 (17.9) | 91 (21.5) | 101 (23.8) | 68 (16.0) | 29 (6.8) | 3.31 ± 1.46 |
| (14) Poor communication between nurses and physicians | 64 (15.5) | 67 (15.8) | 86 (20.3) | 109 (25.7) | 59 (13.9) | 39 (9.2) | 3.35 ± 1.51 |
| (15) Many patients are on the same or similar medications | 56 (13.3) | 54 (12.7) | 60 (14.2) | 130 (30.7) | 82 (19.6) | 41 (9.7) | 3.60 ± 1.51 |
| (16) Unit staff do not receive enough services on new medications | 66 (15.6) | 65 (15.3) | 80 (18.9) | 81 (19.1) | 79 (18.6) | 53 (12.5) | 3.47 ± 1.62 |
| (17) In this unit, there is no easy way to look up information on medications | 110 (25.9) | 101 (23.8) | 88 (20.8) | 72 (17.0) | 37 (8.7) | 16 (3.8) | 2.70 ± 1.43 |
| (18) Nurses in this unit have limited knowledge about medications | 93 (21.9) | 108 (25.5) | 86 (20.3) | 68 (16.0) | 49 (11.6) | 20 (4.7) | 2.84 ± 1.47 |
| (19) Nurses get pulled between teams and from other units | 102 (24.1) | 78 (18.4) | 80 (18.9) | 75 (17.7) | 66 (15.6) | 23 (5.4) | 2.99 ± 1.56 |
| (20) When scheduled medications are delayed, nurses do not communicate the time when the next dose is due | 119 (28.1) | 91 (21.5) | 81 (19.1) | 71 (16.7) | 36 (8.5) | 26 (6.1) | 2.75 ± 1.53 |
| (21) Nurses on this unit do not adhere to the approved medication administration procedure | 167 (39.4) | 100 (23.6) | 68 (16.0) | 56 (13.2) | 20 (4.7) | 13 (3.1) | 2.29 ± 1.38 |
| (22) Nurses are interrupted while administering medications to perform other duties | 57 (13.4) | 58 (13.7) | 49 (11.6) | 95 (22.4) | 90 (21.2) | 75 (17.7) | 3.77 ± 1.66 |
| (23) Unit staffing levels are inadequate | 40 (9.4) | 59 (13.9) | 45 (10.6) | 68 (16.0) | 84 (19.8) | 128 (30.2) | 4.13 ± 1.71 |
| (24) Medication orders are not transcribed to the Kardex correctly | 53 (12.5) | 68 (16.0) | 90 (21.2) | 121 (28.5) | 62 (14.6) | 30 (7.1) | 3.38 ± 1.42 |
| (25) Errors are made in the medication Kardex | 78 (18.4) | 78 (18.4) | 109 (25.7) | 102 (24.1) | 43 (10.1) | 14 (3.3) | 2.99 ± 1.37 |
| (26) Equipment malfunctions or is not set correctly (e.g., IV pump) | 100 (23.6) | 86 (20.3) | 77 (18.2) | 68 (16.0) | 63 (14.9) | 30 (7.1) | 3.00 ± 1.60 |
| (27) The nurse is unaware of a known allergy | 107 (25.2) | 100 (23.6) | 86 (20.3) | 92 (21.7) | 28 (6.6) | 11 (2.6) | 2.69 ± 1.37 |
| (28) Patients are off the ward for other care | 152 (35.8) | 95 (22.4) | 63 (14.9) | 65 (15.3) | 29 (6.8) | 20 (4.7) | 2.49 ± 1.50 |
∗ Min (1); max (6).