Table 2.

Comparison of MAE subtypes in ICU and non-ICU wards during 2011 to the first half-year of 2014

	ICU		Non-ICU		P
	Number	Occurrence rate (%)	Number	Occurrence rate (%)
Number of discharged patients (n)	3,196		298,280
Subtypes of MAEs
Improper handling physician order	0	0	14	0.00469
Nonadherence to the rule associated with skin tests and contraindications concerning cross allergy	2	0.0625	56	0.0188	0.256a
Venous exosmosis	1	0.0313	3	0.00101	0.042b
Omission	19	0.594	239	0.0801	<0.001a
Dose error	10	0.313	59	0.0198	<0.001a
Speed error	2	0.0626	14	0.00469	0.001a
Preparation error	4	0.125	95	0.0318	0.016a
Wrong patient error	8	0.250	132	0.0443	<0.001a
Route error	4	0.125	23	0.00771	<0.001a
Dosing time error	7	0.219	64	0.0214	<0.001a
Duplicate dosing	1	0.0313	20	0.00671	0.554a
MAE severity ratings
Type 1 errors	8	0.250	63	0.0211	<0.001a
Type 2 errors	47	1.471	646	0.216	<0.001c
Type 3 errors	3	0.0939	13	0.00436	<0.001a
Total number of MAEs	58	1.815	721	0.241	<0.001c

Notes:

^aPearson’s chi-square continuity correction test

^bFisher’s exact test

^cPearson’s chi-square test. Type 1 errors: errors occurred that reached the patient but did not cause patient harm. Type 2 errors: errors occurred that reached the patient and required monitoring to confirm that they resulted in no harm to the patient and/or required intervention to preclude harm. Type 3 errors: errors occurred that may have contributed to or resulted in temporary harm to the patient and required intervention, initial or prolonged hospitalization.

Abbreviations: MAEs, medication administration errors; ICU, intensive care unit.