The Effect of Using Feedback Strategies with an Emphasis on Pharmaceutical Care standards on Nursing Students’ Knowledge and their Medication Errors

Introduction: Medication administration process is a critical aspect of professional nursing care. Prevention from medical errors needs awareness and appropriate decision-making and performance. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of using feedback strategies with an emphasis on medication care standards on knowledge of nursing students and their medication errors. Methods: During two semesters of 2011-2012 academic year, a quasi-experimental study was conducted on 59 nursing students of Arak nursing school, who were passing training course in cardiopulmonary ward. Students were divided into 2 groups of intervention and control. Data-gathering tool was a researcher-made observation checklist about the types and frequency of medication errors which was completed by an observer. In order to evaluate pharmaceutical knowledge, a questionnaire of 26 items was developed by the researcher. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and Wilcoxon and Mann Whitney statistical tests. Results: There was a significant difference between mean scores of medication errors in both groups before and after intervention. After intervention, the mean score of knowledge was higher in intervention group (19.86±2.43) compared to that of control group (13.70±2.92). In addition, a statistically significant difference was observed in mean of medication errors between experiment (0.48±0.63) and control group (1.23±1.04) after intervention (P=0.001 and Z=3.20). Conclusion: There was an enhancement in the students’ awareness of medication care and a reduction in their medication errors. This reveals the positive outcome of giving feedback along with an emphasis on medication care standards and its helpful effects on students’ knowledge and their failures. Therefore, in order to enhance the efficacy of education and to reduce medication errors as well, clinical instructors can enrich the clinical training practices by choosing proper programs designed in accordance with objectives and educational contents.