A Descriptive Study to assess the Knowledge among the Nurses Regarding Prevention of Medical Error among the Nurses in Selected Hospital at Mysore

BACK GROUND OF THE STUDY: A medical error occurs when a health-care provider chooses an inappropriate method of care or improperly executes an appropriate method of care. Medical errors are often described as human errors in healthcare. However, medical error definitions are subject to debate, as there are many types of medical error from minor to major, and causality is often poorly determined. India is recording a whopping 5.2 million injuries each year due to medical errors and adverse events.

OBJECTIVES:

1) To assess the knowledge regarding prevention of medical error among the nurses.

2) To find the association of knowledge regarding prevention of medical errors among nurse with their selected demographic variables.

METHODS: A descriptive survey was adopted. The sample consists of 60 nurses using non probability convenient sampling technique from selected hospital at Mysore. The data collection tool consisted of a personal profile, structured knowledge questionnaire. Content validity of the structured knowledge questionnaire is established in consultation with subject experts. Reliability of structured knowledge questionnaire was done by using split half method and 0.80 were found reliable.

RESULT: The data analysis was done by both descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings of the study revealed that nurses 15(25%) are having moderate knowledge and 45(75%) are having good knowledge regarding prevention of medical error. There was no significant association found between knowledge level with their selected personnel variables.