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Table 2 Types of potential medication administration errors (MAEs) in 3-month observation period

From: Medication administration errors for older people in long-term residential care

Type of potential MAE

All Homes

No. (%)1

Residential Homes

No. (%)1

Nursing Homes

No. (%)1

Incidence Rate Ratio2

(95% CI)

Attempting to give a 4-hourly medication too early (< 3.50 hrs)

1,021 (0.5)

604 (0.4)

417 (0.8)

1.81

(1.60 - 2.05)**

Attempting to give other medication at wrong time

586 (0.3)

412 (0.3)

174 (0.3)

1.11

(0.93 - 1.32)

Attempting to give medication on the wrong day

359 (0.2)

231 (0.2)

128 (0.2)

1.46

(1.17 - 1.80)**

Attempting to give medication to the wrong resident

233(0.1)

164 (0.1)

69 (0.1)

1.11

(0.83 - 1.46)

Attempting to give a medication that has been discontinued

90 (0.05)

70 (0.1)

20 (0.04)

0.75

(0.46 - 1.23)

Overall Total

2,289 (1.2)

1,481(1.1)

808 (1.6)

1.43

(1.32 to 1.56)**

  1. 1 Error incidence rate calculated as % of total administrations in 3 month observation period
  2. 2 Ratio of rate in nursing homes compared to residential homes. 95% confidence interval (CI) calculated for incidence rate ratio.
  3. ** Significant p < 0.001