Individual Circadian Preference, Shift Work, and Risk of Medication Errors: A Cross-Sectional Web Survey among Italian Midwives

Rosaria Cappadona, Emanuele Di Simone, Alfredo De Giorgi, Benedetta Boari, Marco Di Muzio, Pantaleo Greco, Roberto Manfredini, María Aurora Rodríguez-Borrego, Fabio Fabbian and Pablo Jesús López-Soto
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Rosaria Cappadona: Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Emanuele Di Simone: Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Alfredo De Giorgi: Clinica Medica Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S. Anna, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Benedetta Boari: Clinica Medica Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S. Anna, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Marco Di Muzio: Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Pantaleo Greco: Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Roberto Manfredini: Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
María Aurora Rodríguez-Borrego: Department of Nursing, Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), 14071 Córdoba, Spain
Fabio Fabbian: Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Pablo Jesús López-Soto: Department of Nursing, Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), 14071 Córdoba, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-11

Abstract: Background: In order to explore the possible association between chronotype and risk of medication errors and chronotype in Italian midwives, we conducted a web-based survey. The questionnaire comprised three main components: (1) demographic information, previous working experience, actual working schedule; (2) individual chronotype, either calculated by Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ); (3) self-perception of risk of medication error. Results: Midwives ( n = 401) responded “yes, at least once” to the question dealing with self-perception of risk of medication error in 48.1% of cases. Cluster analysis showed that perception of risk of medication errors was associated with class of age 31–35 years, shift work schedule, working experience 6–10 years, and Intermediate-type MEQ score. Conclusions: Perception of the risk of medication errors is present in near one out of two midwives in Italy. In particular, younger midwives with lower working experience, engaged in shift work, and belonging to an Intermediate chronotype, seem to be at higher risk of potential medication error. Since early morning hours seem to represent highest risk frame for female healthcare workers, shift work is not always aligned with individual circadian preference. Assessment of chronotype could represent a method to identify healthcare personnel at higher risk of circadian disruption.

Keywords: circadian rhythm; chronotype; midwives; Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ); near misses; nurses; rhythms desynchronization; risk of medication errors; shift work; sleep (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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