Interventions to improve reporting of medication errors in hospitals: A systematic review and narrative synthesis

Identifying factors influencing clinicians' reporting of medication errors: a systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis using the theoretical domains framework

INTRODUCTION

Medication errors have a significant impact on patient safety and professional practice. The widespread under-reporting of errors by clinicians indicates the critical need for behavioral change. This systematic review aimed to identify and synthesize qualitative evidence on factors influencing clinicians' reporting of medication errors.

AREAS COVERED

Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Scopus, PubMed, and Embase were searched until March 2023 for studies on factors influencing clinicians' reporting of medication errors. Two independent reviewers conducted the screening, data extraction, and quality appraisal. Using framework synthesis approach, the identified themes were mapped to Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF).

EXPERT OPINION

The review analyzed fourteen high-quality studies across various regions. Facilitators of reporting were identified in the TDF domains of beliefs about consequences knowledge and social/professional role and identity. More themes emerged as barriers, mapped to the domains of beliefs about consequences, emotions, environmental context and resources and knowledge. The review suggests aligning these barriers with key behavior change techniques, such as emphasizing the risks of non-reporting, promoting emotional well-being, improving accessibility of reporting systems and advancing knowledge through educational programs. Future work should focus on developing these behavior change techniques into practical interventions.

Prevalence and factors associated with medication administration errors in the neonatal intensive care unit: A multicentre, nationwide direct observational study

AIM(S)

To determine the prevalence of medication administration errors and identify factors associated with medication administration errors among neonates in the neonatal intensive care units.

DESIGN

Prospective direct observational study.

METHODS

The study was conducted in the neonatal intensive care units of five public hospitals in Malaysia from April 2022 to March 2023. The preparation and administration of medications were observed using a standardized data collection form followed by chart review. After data collection, error identification was independently performed by two clinical pharmacists. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with medication administration errors.

RESULTS

A total of 743 out of 1093 observed doses had at least one error, affecting 92.4% (157/170) neonates. The rate of medication administration errors was 68.0%. The top three most frequently occurring types of medication administration errors were wrong rate of administration (21.2%), wrong drug preparation (17.9%) and wrong dose (17.0%). Factors significantly associated with medication administration errors were medications administered intravenously, unavailability of a protocol, the number of prescribed medications, nursing experience, non-ventilated neonates and gestational age in weeks.

CONCLUSION

Medication administration errors among neonates in the neonatal intensive care units are still common. The intravenous route of administration, absence of a protocol, younger gestational age, non-ventilated neonates, higher number of medications prescribed and increased years of nursing experience were significantly associated with medication administration errors.

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE

The findings of this study will enable the implementation of effective and sustainable interventions to target the factors identified in reducing medication administration errors among neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit.

REPORTING METHOD

We adhered to the STROBE checklist.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

An expert panel consisting of healthcare professionals was involved in the identification of independent variables.

Recent mortality rates due to complications of medical and surgical care in the US

OBJECTIVES

Medical errors and complications pose a major threat to the safety of healthcare systems worldwide. This article was hence aimed at determining the current burden of complications of medical and surgical care in the US.

METHODS

We searched the latest version of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WONDER online database (years 2018-2022) using ICD-10 codes Y40-Y84 (complications of medical and surgical care).

RESULTS

The age-adjusted death rate for complications of medical and surgical care increased from 1.17 × 100,000 in 2018 to 1.49 × 100,000 in 2021, but then declined to 0.85 × 100,000 in 2022. The gender-specific analysis showed a similar trend, with the age-adjusted death rate values always being higher in men than in women. A clear age-dependent relationship was also found in the crude mortality rate for complications of medical and surgical care, as higher death rates were observed in older patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This analysis reveals that the burden of complications of medical and surgical care has increased over time, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, but has then considerably declined in 2022. However, root cause analysis and actions are still needed for preventing the still noticeable consequences of medical complications.

The association between the adverse event reporting system and burnout and job satisfaction of nurses: Workplace violence as a mediator

AIMS

This study aims to explore the association between the implementation of the adverse event reporting system (AERS), burnout, and job satisfaction among psychiatric nurses, with a focus on examining the mediating effect of workplace violence from patients.

BACKGROUND

Many organizational and personal factors contribute to burnout and job satisfaction experienced by nurses. AERS, serving as a key component of organizational-level quality improvement system, impacts the overall workplace wellness of nurses.

METHODS

A national sample of 9,744 psychiatric nurses from 41 psychiatric hospitals across 29 provinces in China participated. Burnout was measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Job satisfaction was measured using the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire. Workplace violence was assessed by nurses' experience of verbal and physical violence. Multilevel linear regression analyses were carried out to examine if AERS impacts burnout and job satisfaction and to identify the mediating role of workplace violence.

RESULTS

AERS was positively associated with job satisfaction, but negatively with burnout and workplace violence. Workplace violence exhibited a positive association with burnout and a negative association with job satisfaction. Mediation analyses indicated that the associations between AERS, burnout, and job satisfaction were mediated by workplace violence.

CONCLUSIONS

The application of AERS is associated with a reduction in workplace violence in hospitals, which contributes to the diminished burnout and heightened job satisfaction among psychiatric nurses.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE AND HEALTH POLICY

The study highlights the importance of organizational efforts and mechanisms in promoting nurses' well-being. It is necessary for hospital management to create a safe workplace through the implementation of AERS.

Improving Reporting Culture Through Daily Safety Huddles

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

A major obstacle to safer care is lack of error reporting, preventing the opportunity to learn from those events. On an acute care unit in a children's hospital in southeastern United States, error reporting and Survey for Patient Safety Culture (SOPS 1.0) scores fell short of agency benchmarks. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement a Safety Huddle Intervention to improve error reporting and SOPS 1.0 scores related to reporting.

METHODS

Marshall Ganz's Change through Public Narrative Framework guided creation of the project's intervention: A story of self, a story of us, a story of now. A scripted Safety Huddle was conducted on the project unit daily for 6 weeks, and nurses on the project unit and a comparison unit completed the SOPS 1.0 before and after the intervention. Monthly error reporting was tracked on those same units.

RESULTS

Error reporting by nurses significantly increased during and after the intervention on the project unit ( P = .012) but not on the comparison unit. SOPS 1.0 items purported to measure reporting culture showed no significant differences after the intervention or between project and comparison units. Only 1 composite score increased after the intervention: communication openness improved on the project unit but not on the comparison unit.

CONCLUSION

Using a Safety Huddle Intervention to promote conversation about error events has potential to increase reporting of errors and foster a sense of communication openness. Both achievements have the capacity to improve patient safety.

Healthcare provider perceptions of safety culture: A multi-site study using the safety attitudes questionnaire

Introduction

Patient safety culture, the way in which members of a healthcare organisation think about and prioritise safety, has been linked to positive patient outcomes. The aim of this study was to use the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ) to measure the safety culture in a variety of healthcare settings located in the province of Munster of Ireland.

Methods

The SAQ was applied in six healthcare settings in the Munster province of Ireland between December 2017 and November 2019. The attitudes of healthcare staff towards six domains of safety culture were assessed over 32 Likert-scaled items. The mean, median, interquartile range and percent positive scores for each domain were calculated for the study population, and subgroup analyses were carried out between study sites and professions. Results for each setting were compared to international benchmarking data. Chi-Squared tests were used to determine whether study site or profession were related to domain scores. Reliability analysis was carried out using Cronbach's alpha.

Results

Study participants (n = 1749) comprising doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and healthcare assistants, were found to have positive attitudes towards patient safety culture but scored poorly in the domains Working Conditions and Perceptions of Management. Perceptions of safety culture were more positive in smaller healthcare settings, and amongst nurses and HCAs. The survey had acceptable internal consistency.

Conclusions

In this study investigating the safety culture of healthcare organisations in Ireland, study participants had generally positive attitudes towards the safety culture in their organisation, however working conditions, perceptions of management, and medication incident reporting were identified as key areas for improvement.

Predicting behavioural intentions towards medication safety among student and new graduate nurses across four countries

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To identify final-year undergraduate students and new graduate nurses' behavioural intentions towards medication safety across four countries.

BACKGROUND

Medication errors are a common and avoidable occurrence, being costly for not only patients but also for health systems and society.

DESIGN

A multi-site cross-sectional study.

METHODS

A self-administered survey was distributed to students and new graduate nurses in South Africa, India, Turkey and Australia. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all survey items. Multiple linear regressions were performed to predict behavioural intentions using the three Theory of Planned Behaviour constructs: attitudes, behavioural control and subjective norms. This study adheres to the STROBE guidelines.

RESULTS

Data were analysed for 432 students and 576 new graduate nurses. Across all countries, new graduate nurses reported significantly higher scores on all the TPB variables compared with student nurses. Attitudes towards medication management were found significantly and positively related to intention to practice safe medication management for both student and new graduate nurses. Total perceived behavioural control was significantly and negatively related to intention to practice safe medication management for students.

CONCLUSION

Student and new graduate nurses showed favourable attitude, subjective norm, perceived behaviour control and intention in practising medication safety. However, differences in countries require further exploration on the factors influencing attitudes towards medication safety among student nurses and new nurse graduates.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Understanding student and new graduate nurses' medication administration practices is important to inform strategies aimed at improving patient safety. The findings of this study highlight the need for an internationally coordinated approach to ensure safe medication administration by student and new graduate nurses.

Improving patient safety through identifying barriers to reporting medication administration errors among nurses: an integrative review

BACKGROUND

The aim of the third WHO challenge released in 2017 was to attain a global commitment to lessen the severity and to prevent medication-related harm by 50% within the next five years. To achieve this goal, comprehensive identification of barriers to reporting medication errors is imperative.

OBJECTIVE

This review systematically identified and examined the barriers hindering nurses from reporting medication administration errors in the hospital setting.

DESIGN

An integrative review.

REVIEW METHODS

PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) including Google scholar were searched to identify published studies on barriers to medication administration error reporting from January 2016 to December 2020. Two reviewers (AA, and KDK) independently assessed the quality of all the included studies using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) version 2018.

RESULTS

Of the 10, 929 articles retrieved, 14 studies were included in this study. The main themes and subthemes identified as barriers to reporting medication administration errors after the integration of results from qualitative and quantitative studies were: organisational barriers (inadequate reporting systems, management behaviour, and unclear definition of medication error), and professional and individual barriers (fear of management/colleagues/lawsuit, individual reasons, and inadequate knowledge of errors).

CONCLUSION

Providing an enabling environment void of punitive measures and blame culture is imperious for nurses to report medication administration errors. Policymakers, managers, and nurses should agree on a uniform definition of what constitutes medication error to enhance nurses' ability to report medication administration errors.