Analyzing the Types, Causes, and Intensity of Medication Errors and Their Impact in Clinical Practice: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Background: Medication errors remain a leading cause of preventable patient harm across healthcare systems. These errors can occur at any stage of the medication-use process and significantly compromise treatment outcomes, patient safety, and healthcare quality. Aim: To evaluate the incidence, types, causes, and severity of medication errors in a tertiary care hospital and identify areas requiring targeted intervention. Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted over three months in a tertiary care teaching hospital. Medical records of 2,203 patients were reviewed, and 113 medication errors were identified. Errors were classified based on type (prescription, transcription, administration) and severity using the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention (NCCMERP) risk index. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square tests and ANOVA, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Prescription errors were the most frequent, followed by transcription and administration errors. Highvolume departments demonstrated higher error prevalence. Most errors belonged to low-risk NCCMERP categories, suggesting limited immediate patient harm but substantial scope for preventive strategies. Conclusion: Medication errors are prevalent in tertiary care settings, predominantly arising during the prescribing phase. Structured interventions such as standardized prescribing practices, enhanced documentation, and departmental safety protocols are essential to improve patient safety.