The Influence of Nurses’ Burnout on Medication Error Knowledge in Pediatric Critical Care Unit

Abstract

Introduction: Medication errors are defined as preventable events that lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm, which may occur during prescription, dispensing, or administration.

Objective: To assess the influence of burnout on nurses' knowledge about medication errors in the pediatric critical care units.

Methods and Materials: A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed for this study to investigate the influence of nurses' burnout on medication errors knowledge, particularly within the realm of pediatric critical care units, from August 1st, 2023, to March 1st, 2024. The study utilized a questionnaire comprising three sections: the first to gather sociodemographic data of patients, and the second The Maslach Burnout Inventory, and third section Knowledge, Attitude and Behavior (KAB) in Medication Errors Questionnaire. A non-probability (purposive) sampling technique was employed in this study, involving 134 nurses works in paediatric critical care units. Data analysis encompassed descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: In pediatric critical care units, up to 61.2% of nurses experienced moderate level of burnout, with a mean score of 37.79 (range 22-66). Among nurses in pediatric critical care units, 74.5% demonstrated good knowledge of medication errors. Statistical analysis revealed non-significant relationship between nurses' burnout and their knowledge of medication errors in the pediatric critical care units at p > 0.05.

Conclusions: More than half of the nurses in the study displayed a moderate level of burnout, with good knowledge about medication errors. According to the findings of the research, show that non-significant relationship between burnout and medication errors knowledge.