Magnitude of Medication Administration Error and Associated Factors Among Nurses Working in Madda Walabu University Goba Referral Hospital, Bale Zone Oromia Region, Southeast Ethiopia

Abstract Background: Administration of medication is the primary responsibility of nurses. Medication errors occurring during the drug administration process can be attributed to a variety of safety effects, ranging from undetected errors to prolonged hospital stays, discomfort and death.Objective: To determine the magnitude of the medication administration error and associated factors among nurses working at Madda Walabu University Goba Referral Hospital, Bale Zone Oromia Region, South East Ethiopia.Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Madda Walabu University Goba Referral Hospital Inpatient Department from February to March, 2020. The study included three hundred ninety-eight medication interventions administered by 89 inpatient unit working nurses during the study period. Data were collected using a pre-tested, structured questionnaire and drug administration assessment using a checklist. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 and Frequency , Percentage, Means and SD were analyzed for descriptive analysis. COR and AOR were calculated to see the association of independent variables and uncontrolled hypertension at 95% CI and p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.Result: The magnitude of the medication error was 248 (62.3%). The most common type of medication error was wrong documentary evidence (53.5% ) , followed by wrong time (39.2%) and wrong dosage (28.%). Variables that were substantially associated with medication administration error include work experience of nurses 0-4 years (AOR = 10.8, 95% CI (4.5-25.86), 5-9 years of service (AOR = 4.05, 95% CI (1.47-11.715), nurses 1-6 (AOR = 0.36, 95% CI (0.17-0.76) nurses 7-10 (AOR = 0.45, 95%CI (0.21-0.96) route IV of medication (AOR =0.13, 95 % CI (0.03 - 0.60) and IM route (AOR =.0.12, 95 % CI (0.02 -0.74) at p-value <0.05. Conclusion: Medication administration error was highly prevalent. Work experience, nurse to patient ratio and route of medication administration were statistically significant factors associated with occurrence of medication administration error. The preparation of nurses and the hospital staff profile would be helpful in minimizing mistakes in the administration of drugs.