More medication errors attributed to depression in residents than to burnout
Patient Safety Monitor Alert
February 13, 2008
According to a new study reported in BMJ (British Medical Journal) more medication errors are committed each year by depressed residents than by residents who are burned out. This study observed and quizzed 123 residents at three urban children's hospitals in the U.S. It was found that 20% of the residents met the criteria to be considered depressed, and 74% met the criteria to be considered burned out.The study showed that depressed residents committed 6.2 times as many medication errors than residents who were not depressed. Residents suffering from burnout committed medication errors at almost the same rate as non-burned out residents.
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