DefinePK

Abstract

Background:   Globally, safe and ethical drug administration is a significant matter related to patient safety and quality care.  In the clinical setting, nurses serve as the backbone of the health care system and actively care for patients.
Objectives: This study aims to assess the level of knowledge regarding high-alert medication, administration, and regulation.
Materials and Methods:  The present cross-sectional study was conducted at Dr. Ziauddin Hospital's North Campus, Karachi. The study was conducted for the four months of the period from November 2023 to February 2024. A total of 114 subjects were approached by a convenient nonprobability method. Nurses working in emergency rooms, intensive care units, coronary care units, and medical intensive care units. Registered nurses with an active license from Pakistan Nursing Council,       Nurses with work experience (more than one year) at tertiary hospitals regardless of gender, and working in shifts and fixed duties were included in the study.  Data was collected by validated, adopted, and self-administered HAM questionnaires. The chi-square test or Fisher's Exact test was applied to determine the association between categorical variables while Pearson Correlation was applied to analyze the association between numeric variables. P-value <0.05 will be considered statistically significant.
Results: Out of a total of 114 participants, most participants were female at 86.7%, and the majority had work experience of ≤ 5 years at 56.7%. Furthermore, the majority of participants were nurses at 73.3% and held a BScN degree at 55%. Most subjects had a low level of knowledge at 76.7%  about high-alert medication. There was no significant correlation was established between high-alert medication administration with high high-alert medication  regulation.
Conclusion: It is concluded that a low level of knowledge of high-alert medication administration and regulation in nurses was established and no significant association was found between high-alert medication administration and                regulation.
Keywords: Knowledge, nurses, high alert medications administration, high alert medication regulation.