Medication errors at home in the pediatric population: An assessment from a parent's perspective

Purpose

The aim of this study is to examine the frequency of medication errors made by parents while administering medication to their children at home, and explore the relationship and associated variables with these errors.

Materials and method

The study utilized a screening model to explore medication administration patterns among parents of children aged 0–12 years in Türkiye. Data were collected through an online survey using a snowball method, with 730 parents participating. Information was gathered using a General Information Form and a Survey Form, and the responses were analyzed using SPSS and RStudio. Chi-square tests and multiple regression analyses were performed to assess relationships between variables and medication errors. Data collection occurred between July 2022 and July 2023.

Results

The study found a 15.9 % rate of medication errors among parents administering medication to their children. The analysis of medication errors revealed that missed drug doses were the most frequent error, accounting for 60.3 % of cases. This was followed by the administration of lower drug doses (19.8 %), non-adherence to storage instructions (8.6 %), administration of excessively higher drug doses (7.8 %), and misuse of medications (3.4 %). Chi-square tests revealed significant relationships between medication errors and various factors, such as challenges during administration, support received, and the use of telephone consultations. Multiple regression analysis identified difficulty in administering medication and the use of telephone consultations as factors significantly associated with medication error.

Conclusion

The results highlight the need for increased support and education for parents to reduce errors during medication administration.