Skip to main content

Table 2 Clinical characteristics, prescribed medication and types of medication errors among pediatric patients admitted to pediatric wards of NRH, February 1, 2015–April 30, 2017

From: Medication prescribing errors among hospitalized pediatric patients at Nekemte Referral Hospital, western Ethiopia: cross-sectional study

Clinical characteristics

Frequency

Percentage (%)

 

Had co- morbid disease

10

2.60

 

Severity of the disease (condition of the patient)

 

 Acute

51

13.28

 

 Severe

195

50.78

 

 Critical

138

35.94

 

Previous medical history

61

15.89

 

Previous medication history

51

13.28

 

Previous hospital admission

41

10.68

 

Pediatrics with new cases

323

84.11

 

Number of medications per patient

 

 1–3

112

29.17

 

 4–6

204

53.12

 

  > 6

68

17.71

 

Types of medication errors

Frequency

Percentage (%)

 

Incorrect drug strength

 Overdose

53

10.27

 

 Under dose

198

38.37

 

Incorrect drug dosage

98

19.0

 

Drugs not fully prescribed

87

16.86

 

Incorrect drug selection

48

9.3

 

Drugs with incorrect instruction

32

6.20

 

Prescribed drugs

Route of administration

Frequency

Percentage (%)

Ceftriaxone

IV only

257

22.13

Paracetamol

PO + Anal

205

17.72

Gentamicin

IM + IV

189

16.34

Cephalexin

PO only

118

10.19

Amoxicillin

PO only

87

7.52

Cloxacillin

PO only

72

6.22

Chloramphenicol

IM + IV + PO

67

5.79

Salbutamol syrup

PO only

61

5.27

Ampicillin

IM + IV + PO

51

4.41

Hydrocortisone

IV only

51

4.41

Total

 

1157

100

  1. IV intravenous; IM intramuscular; PO orally