Patient safety in home care: A multicenter cross‐sectional study about medication errors and medication management of nurses

Studies assume that up to 30% of home care recipients are exposed to a possible medication error. For the home care sector, the study situation regarding such errors is limited. The aim of the study was to find out how often medication errors occur and whether they are related to training, quality assurance measures (use of the double‐check principle (DCP)), and other structural conditions of home care services. A cross‐sectional study was conducted, comprising 485 fully trained nurses of 107 randomly selected home care services. Potential influencing factors were analyzed in a multiple logistic regression model. Of 485 fully qualified nurses, 41.6% reported medication errors within a 12‐month period, while 14.8% did not answer this question. Nurses who had attended medication training within the last 2 years compared to a longer period (frequently to rather rarely applied DCP); the odds ratio of not making medication‐related errors was 1.79[1.42–3.09] (OR 3.13; [1.88–5.20]). Years of professional experience, amount of patients per shift, and type of work contract (full/part‐time) were not statistically significantly associated with reported medication errors. Medication‐related errors occur frequently in home care. Regular training and adequate quality management measures increase patient safety. Nursing managers and other responsible individuals of home care institutions have to make sure that nursing staff take part in regular medication training and apply the DCP when they give out medication in home care.