TABLE 2.
Characteristics of MEs (n = 58) Investigated by Valvira During the Period 2013–2017
| Characteristic | n | % |
|---|---|---|
| Patient sex | 58 | |
| Female | 34 | 59 |
| Male | 24 | 41 |
| Patient age, y | 58 | |
| 0–19 | 0 | 0 |
| 20–39 | 4 | 7 |
| 40–59 | 6 | 10 |
| 60–79 | 15 | 26 |
| 80–99 | 33 | 57 |
| Severity of harm | 58 | |
| Death | 21 | 36 |
| Severe harm | 9 | 16 |
| Nonsevere harm | 19 | 33 |
| No harm | 3 | 5 |
| Not able to assess | 6 | 10 |
| Preventability | 58 | |
| Likely preventable | 39 | 67 |
| Potentially preventable | 14 | 24 |
| Unlikely preventable | 2 | 4 |
| Prevented | 3 | 5 |
| Error setting* | 64 | |
| Assisted living facility | 16 | 25 |
| University hospital | 10 | 16 |
| Primary care ward outside hospital | 10 | 16 |
| Central hospital | 10 | 16 |
| Primary care hospitals | 9 | 14 |
| Public health center | 4 | 6 |
| Home care | 3 | 5 |
| Pharmacy | 1 | 2 |
| Private medical center | 1 | 2 |
| Health care professional involved* | 74 | |
| Physician | 37 | 50 |
| Practical nurse | 17 | 23 |
| Nurse | 13 | 18 |
| Student | 5 | 7 |
| Pharmacist | 2 | 3 |
| Medication process phase* | 81 | |
| Prescribing | 38 | 47 |
| Administration | 15 | 19 |
| Monitoring | 14 | 17 |
| Dispensing | 6 | 7 |
| Documentation | 5 | 6 |
| Use of medicine by the patient | 1 | 1 |
| Distribution from pharmacy | 1 | 1 |
| Ordering medication from the pharmacy | 1 | 1 |
*One error process can include several settings, professionals involved, or failures.