Table 5. Causes of medication errors (n = 557).
HCP: Healthcare professional
| Causes of Medication Errors [n = 557 (%)] | Type of HCP Involved, n (%) | |||||||||
| Causes | Prescription | Documentation | Administration | Dispensing | Total | Doctor | Postgraduate student | Intern | Pharmacist | Nurse |
| Duty shift | 0 | 24 (4.15) | 23 (3.98) | 0 | 47 (8.43) | 1 (2.12) | 11 (23.4) | 12 (25.53) | 0 | 23 (48.93) |
| Forgetfulness | 0 | 0 | 31 (5.37) | 8 (1.38) | 39 (7) | 0 | 3 (7.69) | 2 (5.12) | 3 (7.69) | 31 (79.48) |
| Illegible documentation | 0 | 0 | 3 (0.51) | 0 | 3 (0.53) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 (100) |
| Lack of attention | 0 | 32 (5.54) | 0 | 0 | 32 (5.74) | 2 (6.25) | 12 (37.5) | 8 (25) | 5 (15.62) | 5 (15.62) |
| Lack of knowledge | 42 (7.27) | 0 | 7 (1.21) | 13 (2.25) | 62 (11.13) | 5 (8.06) | 15 (24.19) | 23 (37.09) | 12 (19.35) | 7 (11.29) |
| Lack of time | 166 (28.7) | 47 (8.14) | 0 | 0 | 213 (38.24) | 34 (15.96) | 75 (35.21) | 53 (24.88) | 2 (0.93) | 49 (23) |
| Look alike Sound alike (LASA) medications | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 (1.73) | 10 (1.79) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 (100) | 0 |
| Too many prescriptions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 (1.9) | 11 (1.97) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 (100) | 0 |
| Unable to read prescription | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 (1.21) | 7 (1.25) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 (100) | 0 |
| Work overload | 0 | 53 (9.18) | 45 (7.79) | 35 (6.06) | 133 (23.87) | 10 (7.51) | 26 (19.54) | 30 (22.55) | 34 (25.56) | 33 (24.81) |