National Survey of Hospital Medication Safety Practice during Mass Gathering (Hajj-2016) in Makkah, Saudi Arabia: Environmental Culture and Staff Competency

Objective: To explore the national survey of hospital medication safety practice during mass gathering (Hajj -2016) in Makkah, Saudi Arabia: Environmental factors and staff competency, the finding of ISMP (2011) self-assessment of medication safety at the hospitals. Methods: It is 15 days cross-sectional national survey of hospital medication safety at Makkah region. The survey modified from Institution of Safe Medication Practice (ISMP) self-assessment of hospital medication safety. It consisted of a demographic section and ten domains with 270 questions. The ten areas included patient information, drug information, communication of medication orders, drug preparation, medication distribution, medication devices, work environment, staff competency, patient education, quality process with risk management domain. The 5-points Likert response scale system used. The survey distributed to sixteen directors of hospital pharmacy during mass gathering Hajj-2016. The medications safety officer at Makkah region distributed the questionnaire and made follow up on a daily basis used physical visiting and through the telephone call. Results: The survey distributed to sixteen hospitals, the response rate, was eleven hospitals (68.75%). The total score of all ISMP-self assessment of medication safety was 3.39 +/-0.51 (67.68 %) with CI (3.2-3.6) P< 0.05. The average rating of environmental factors, workflow, and staffing were 3.93 (78.6 %) while the mean score staff competency and education domain at all hospital were 3.69 59.40%). The highest score of both domains was a standard lighting adequate to read labels and other important drug and patient information in pharmacies 4.70 (94 %). The lowest score of both domains was The organization provides formal teamwork training to all staff 2.91 (58.2%). Conclusion: The medication safety related environmental factors, workflow, and staff competency key element during mass gathering Hajj period was right level. The levels of both domains required to continue in the coming next years with focusing on using the new technology of pharmacy practice at hospitals and annual assessment medication safety culture during mass gathering Hajj period at all hospitals in Makka region, Saudi Arabia highly recommended.