Interdepartmental Communication, Medication Safety, Time Efficiency
Conditions
Keywords
pharmacy assistants, medication safety, hospital ward, medication management, nursing
Brief summary
The goal of this interventional study is to evaluate the impact of implementing pharmaceutical technical assistants (PTAs) to support the medication process on hospital wards on operational efficiency and medication safety among nurses and pharmaceutical technicial assistants. The main questions it aims to answer are: * What is the effect of PTAs on the time spent by (night) nurses on medication dispensation? * How does their involvement influence unplanned interactions between nursing staff and the pharmacy? * What is the impact of PTAs on the safety of medication processes, including missed or delayed doses, accuracy of dispensed medication, and reported medication errors? Researchers will compare periods with and without the involvement of PTAs in the medication management process on the hospital ward to assess differences in: * Time spent on medication dispensation. * Frequency of unplanned interactions between hospital wards and the pharmacy. * Rates of missed or delayed medication doses. * Accuracy of dispensed medication compared to prescriptions. * Reported medication errors. During the observed medication dispensation processes, involved nurses and PTAs will: * Be observed while preparing medications to measure time and interruptions. * Provide data on medication errors and delays through digital systems and reports. * Complete a demographic questionnaire about their professional background. This study involves both intervention and control periods, allowing researchers to measure the specific effects of PTAs' involvement in medication processes.
Interventions
OTHERPharmaceutical technical assistants supported medication dispensation on the hospital ward
Pharmaceutical technical assistants (PTAs) visit the hospital ward for two hours in the morning or afternoon to dispense medications for admitted patients for the following day. Night nurses then complete any final additions or adjustments as needed.
Sponsors
Vitaz
Universiteit Antwerpen
University of Applied Sciences Utrecht
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
This study focuses on analyzing 50 medication dispensation processes on hospital wards, evenly distributed across two distinct periods: a control period without the involvement of Pharmaceutical Technical Assistants (PTAs) (medication dispensation by the night nurses) and an intervention period where PTAs actively participate in medication dispensation. Nurses and PTAs observed during the dispensation processes will be included in the study based on the selected medication dispensation moments during which they are on duty.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
for observed medication dispensation moments Control Period: * Medication dispensation moments must be performed by nurses during the nightshift. . * Nurses included must have at least six months of experience working night shifts. Intervention Period: * Medication dispensation moments must be performed by PTAs. * PTAs included must have at least six months of experience specifically in medication dispensation tasks.
Exclusion criteria
Hospital wards that introduced the involvement of PTAs less than six months ago.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Time spent on medication dispensation on the hospital ward | Data collection was conducted over five days during the control period and five days during the intervention period on each of the included hospital wards. | Intervention Period: Observing and recording the time the Pharmaceutical Technical Assistant (PTA) spends dispensing medication on the hospital ward. This is followed by observing and recording the time the night nurse takes to complete the medication dispensation for the next day. Control Period: Observing and recording the time the night nurse spends dispensing medication for the next day without PTA involvement. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Dispensing errors | Data collection was conducted over five days during the control period and five days during the intervention period on each of the included hospital wards. | Intervention Period: Verifying the accuracy of medication dispensed by the PTA, including recording the number and type of errors identified. Control Period: Verifying the accuracy of medication dispensed by the night nurse, including recording the number and type of errors identified. |
| Delayed and omitted medication doses | Data collection was conducted over five days during the control period and five days during the intervention period on each of the included hospital wards. | Intervention Period: Reviewing the electronic medication system for the day the PTA prepared the medication. This includes recording the number of delayed or missed doses, the name and type of medication involved, and the reasons for the delay or non-administration. Control Period: Reviewing the electronic medication system for the day the night nurse dispensed the medication. This includes recording the number of delayed or missed doses, the name and type of medication involved, and the reasons for the delay or non-administration. |
| Reported Medication Errors | Data collection was conducted over five days during the control period and five days during the intervention period on each of the included hospital wards. | Collecting the reported medication errors from the hospital's incident reporting system during both the intervention and control periods. |
| Interdepartmental Communication Between Pharmacy and Hospital Ward | Data collection was conducted over five days during the control period and five days during the intervention period on each of the included hospital wards. | The exchange of information and updates between the pharmacy and the hospital ward to ensure accurate medication preparation, timely delivery, and proper administration. During both the intervention and control periods, this communication includes coordinating medication orders, addressing discrepancies, managing urgent requests, and providing guidance or clarifications as required. |
Countries
Belgium
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORTinne Dilles, Doctor, Professor
Universiteit Antwerpen
Outcome results
None listed