Perioperative medication errors among anaesthesia service providers in Namibia - A retrospective survey
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Date
2025
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Namibia
Abstract
Medication administration errors are widespread across the healthcare system
resulting in huge human and financial costs. Notably, drug administration errors are a
major reason for malpractice claim against anaesthesia service providers. The
outcomes of medication errors range from no harm and to the grievous events such as
intensive care admissions or death, nonetheless they are preventable. The study was
aimed to determine the prevalence and characteristics of the common perioperative
medication administration errors among anaesthesia service providers in Namibia,
identify the contributing factors and assess their outcomes on patients.
METHODOLOGY
This was a descriptive, retrospective survey among specialist anaesthesiologists,
anaesthesia registrars and medical officers across the 34 public hospitals and 18
private hospitals in Namibia over a period of one month. A confidential, self administered structured questionnaire was shared with participants via the email,
phone and as a web-based survey.
RESULTS
Out of 122 questionnaires shared, 112 (92%) anaesthesia providers responded. There
were slightly more female participants, 58 (52%) than males and mostly medical
officers (56%). Among the respondents, 88 (79%) indicated that they had committed
one or more medication errors during their anaesthesia practice. The commonest type
was omission (46%), followed by the administration of a wrong drug (27%). In 69%
cases, there was no harm to the patients while 6% had HDU/ICU admissions and 1
(0.9%) died.
CONCLUSION
This index study found a high prevalence of medication administration errors among
the practitioners, comparable with many studies. Majority of patients did not suffer
any harm. Most respondents blamed the occurrence of errors on distractions/fatigue.
It is important to increase awareness and training for prevention as well as set up a
nationally coordinated incident reporting system for perioperative drug administration
errors in Namibia
Description
A thesis in partial fulfilment for the requirements for the Degree of Master of Medicine (Anesthesiology, Critical care and Pain management)
Keywords
Medication administration errors, Perioperative events, Anaesthesia service providers in Namibia, Associated factors, Outcomes, Namibia, University of Namibia