Assessing Medication Management Practices at University Hospital of Ibn Sina: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Medication-related harm accounts for approximately 50% of all preventable harm in healthcare and incurs an estimated global cost of US$42 billion annually. The WHO’s “Medication Without Harm” initiative targets a 50% reduction in severe avoidable medication-related harm within five years. In Morocco, data on medication management practices in public hospitals remain scarce. This study evaluates the medication management at the University Hospital of Ibn Sina (CHU Ibn Sina) to identify strengths and areas for improvement. Methods A cross-sectional survey of 432 physicians, pharmacists, nurses, nurse assistants, and pharmacy assistants with ≥ 1 year of medication-management experience was conducted from September to December 2024 across 11 CHU facilities. A French-language questionnaire—pilot-tested and distributed via email, messaging apps, and printed QR-coded forms—assessed policy awareness, satisfaction, prescribing, dispensing, preparation, and administration practices. Data were anonymized and analyzed descriptively using Excel. Ethical approval was granted by CHU Ibn Sina (No. 5939). Results Respondents included doctors (37%), nurses (29%), and pharmacists (14%). Only 16% were aware of the hospital’s medication policy, and 45% reported low satisfaction with the medication management. Clinical protocols (35%) and manual guidelines (31%) were more frequently used than decision-support systems (8%) or formularies (4%). In dispensing, 53.5% consistently verified prescriptions and 78% employed traceability systems, yet only 17.8% had automated cabinets. During administration, 46% always verified orders, but just 25% used error-reduction tools; 76% reported post-administration monitoring. Conclusion Although basic safety practices exist, limited technology uptake, low policy awareness, and inconsistent protocol adherence reveal the need for an integrated, patient-centered, system-wide medication management strategy tailored to local needs.