Abstract
Background
Medication errors remain one of the most common types of incidents reported in Australian hospitals. Studies have reported that for every 10 medication administrations, a medication administration error is likely to occur and reach the patient, potentially contributing to a preventable patient harm.
Objective
To assess the impact of a mixed intervention model on medication administration errors in an Australian hospital.
Methods
Two types of intervention model (human and system orientated) were implemented through collaboration with key stakeholders (nurses, educators, and policy makers) to reduce medication administration errors across this 650-bed multisite Australian hospital from August 2018 to June 2019. To assess the impact of the mixed intervention model, the total number of reported medication errors and the number of medication administration errors were retrieved from the hospital electronic medication management system for 12 months before (from June 2017 to July 2018) and after (from July 2019 to June 2020) implementation of all interventions.
Results
Implementation of a mixed intervention model through collaboration with stakeholders resulted in significant reduction in the number of medication administration errors, and those with harm (from 68 to 55%, P < 0.0001 and from 12 to 8%, P = 0.0001 respectively). Additionally, the severity of medication administration errors was also reduced (HR 0.562, 95% CI (0.298–1.062)) in the post-intervention phase.
Conclusion
Introducing a mixed intervention model reduces medication administration errors across health settings and has the potential to drive excellence in healthcare.
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adapted from Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research)9
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Availability of data and materials
The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge the great work and support of all nursing staff, nurse unit managers, Peninsula Health Safer care unit staff, operational and clinical directors who were part of the various projects that were developed and implemented as part of a hospital-wide medication safety program overseen by the lead author (VK).
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Study conception and design: VK. Data collection: VK & AB. Data analysis and interpretation: VK. Drafting of the article: VK. Critical revision of the article: VK & AB.
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This study received exemption from the hospital Human Research & Ethics Committee as it did not involve any participants, and hence informed consent was not required/needed. All authors approved publication of this article.
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The authors declare no competing interests.
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Khalil, V., Bates, A. Assessing the impact of a mixed intervention model on the reduction of medication administration errors in an Australian hospital. Ir J Med Sci 191, 2433–2438 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-021-02872-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-021-02872-0