Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between drug dosage calculation error prevention competence and medication safety organizational climate.
METHODS
We surveyed 207 nurses from 15 hospitals. An assessment survey was designed to assess the medication safety organizational climate which consisted of four subcategories including medication safety cultures, medication safety initiatives, medication error communication, and medication error management competence. The drug dosage calculation error prevention competence contains two subcategories; Dosage calculation habits and ability. The data were collected from July to August 2011. Descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, partial Pearson correlation coefficient, canonical correlation were used.
RESULTS
Organizational climate was related to dosage calculation error prevention competence with two significant canonical variables. The first canonical correlation coefficient was .53 (Wilks' lambda=0.71, df=8, p<.001) and that of the second was .21 (Wilks' lambda=0.96, df=3, p= .027). The first variate indicated higher perception of medication safety cultures, safety initiatives, error communication and error management competence were related to better dosage calculation habits. The second variate showed higher perception of medication safety cultures and lower medication error management competence were related to higher calculation ability.
CONCLUSION
Continuous supporting strategies for medication safety organizational climate should be implemented to improve drug dosage calculation habits.