Drug administration practices of anaesthesia practitioners at Kenyatta national hospital

Abstract

Background: Patient safety is a serious global public health concern. The delivery of healthcare worldwide is challenged by a wide variety of safety problems. Iatrogenic harm through medication errors is one of these problems. Drug errors are of particular concern in anaesthesia as drug administration is a core clinical activity for anaesthesia practitioners. The study aimed to determine the drug administration practices of anaesthesia practitioners at KNH and the methods used to prevent drug errors. Methodology: This was a prospective cross sectional study carried out in the Kenyatta National Hospital. Data was collected through observing the practice used by anaesthesia practitioners in the preparation, administration and storage of drugs in the anaesthesia workspace. Data analysis was analysed using SPSS version 20 as per the research objectives. Results: A total of 260 anaesthetic procedures were observed. Syringe labelling at 94.6% was the most common method used by anaesthesia practitioners to prevent drug errors. The common drug errors were incorrect drug dose, wrong drug, lack of asepsis and inaccurate documentation of drugs administered. Drugs involved in drug errors included: neuromuscular blocking agents, antibiotics, lignocaine and epinephrine. Conclusion: Anaesthesia practitioners at KNH are aware of the risk of drug errors during the administration of anaesthesia and use measures to prevent the drug errors. Standardisation of the practice of anaesthesia drug preparation, administration and storage of drugs in the KNH is required