Unraveling medication errors in enteral tube administration: A cross-sectional study in geriatric patients receiving home health care

Medication administration through enteral feeding tubes requires careful consideration, as several medications are unsuitable for such administration due to interactions with feeding formulas or adverse effects when crushed. These errors can lead to feeding tube obstruction, reduced drug efficacy, or drug toxicity. This study aimed to assess medication errors in geriatric patients using enteral feeding tubes who were enrolled in a home health care program. This was a cross-sectional observational study conducted at the Ministry of Health Government Hospital in Makkah City, Saudi Arabia. Medication errors related to chronic oral drugs in geriatric patients using enteral feeding tubes were evaluated, including inappropriate medications for enteral tube administration, inappropriate preparation, drug-nutrient interaction, and availability of liquid formulation, following established guidelines. Of the total 233 medications prescribed to 46 patients receiving enteral tube feeding at home, 49.3% exhibited at least one form of medication error, totaling 135 errors. Medication errors were highly prevalent among the patients (93.4%), with the leading cause being the administration of medications unsuitable for enteral feeding tubes (33.3%), predominantly due to the use of controlled release or enteric-coated formulations. This study underscores the high prevalence of medication errors in older patients receiving enteral feeding at home. To ensure patient safety and optimal outcomes, healthcare professionals should utilize available resources and seek expert advice when selecting medications and dosage forms for tube-fed patients. Pharmacists play a critical role in promoting safe drug use and can greatly contribute by educating patient caregivers on proper medication preparation and administration techniques, thus preventing harm to patients.