Background.Drugs are often prescribed, dispensed, and administered by the same person during anaesthesia, and this may increase\nthe risk of drug error. Objectives. To assess the frequency of drug administration errors by anaesthetists, the drugs commonly\ninvolved, and the effects of such errors. Method. A questionnaire-based study was carried out among participants at an annual\nconference of Nigerian anaesthetists. Sixty-six of the 80 participants returned the completed questionnaire. The respondents\ncomprised 1 nurse anaesthetist, 34 resident doctors, 3 doctors with diploma in anaesthesia, and 28 consultant anaesthetists. The\ncollated data on drug errors, the effect of such errors on patients, and formulated protocols to prevent future occurrence were\nsubjected to descriptive analysis using Microsoft Excel. Result. Drug error was reported by 71.21% and witnessed by 22.72% of the\nrespondents.Most of the drug errors occurred during general anaesthesia (90.3%) for emergency procedures (51.61%), and muscle\nrelaxants were most commonly involved (58.06%). Conclusion. Drug errors are common among anaesthetists in Nigeria and their\nincidence is greater during general anaesthesia for emergency procedures, largely as a result of ampoule swaps due to similarities\nin ampoule design and packaging. Guidelines on their prevention should be developed by all health institutions.
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