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Walker D, Moloney C, SueSee B, Sharples R, Blackman R, Long D, Hou XY. Factors Influencing Medication Errors in the Prehospital Paramedic Environment: A Mixed Method Systematic Review. PREHOSP EMERG CARE 2022:1-18. [PMID: 35579544 DOI: 10.1080/10903127.2022.2068089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION There is limited research available on safe medication management practices in EMS practice, with most evidence-based medication safety guidelines based on research in nursing, operating theatre and pharmacy settings. Prevention of errors requires recognition of contributing factors across the spectrum from the organizational level to procedural elements and patient characteristics. Evidence is inconsistent regarding the incidence of medication errors and multiple sources also state that errors are under-reported, making the true magnitude of the problem difficult to quantify. Definitions of error also vary, with the specific context of medication errors in prehospital practice yet to be established. The objective of this review is to identify the factors influencing the occurrence of medication errors by EMS personnel in the prehospital environment. METHODS AND ANALYSIS The review included both qualitative and quantitative research involving interventions or phenomena related to medication safety or medication error by EMS personnel in the prehospital environment. A search of multiple databases was conducted to identify studies meeting these inclusion criteria. All studies selected were assessed for methodological quality, however this was not used as a basis for exclusion. Each stage of study selection, appraisal and data extraction was conducted by two independent reviewers, with a third reviewer deciding any unresolved conflicts. The review follows a convergent integrated approach, conducting a single qualitative synthesis of qualitative and "qualitized" quantitative data. RESULTS 56 articles were included in the review, with case reports and qualitative studies being the most frequent study types. Qualitative analysis revealed seven major themes: organizational factors (with reporting as a sub-theme), equipment/medications, environmental factors, procedure-related factors, communication, patient-related factors (with pediatrics as a sub-theme) and cognitive factors. Both contributing factors and protective factors were identified. DISCUSSION The body of evidence regarding medication errors is heterogenous and limited in both quantity and quality. Multiple factors influence medication errors occurrence; knowledge of these is necessary to mitigate the risk of errors. Medication error incidence is difficult to quantify due to inconsistent measure, definitions and contexts of research conducted to date. Further research is required to quantify the prevalence of identified factors in specific practice settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Walker
- School of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Ipswich, Australia
| | - Clint Moloney
- Program of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Health and Biomedicine, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Brendan SueSee
- School of Linguistics, Adult and Special Education, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield, Australia
| | - Renee Sharples
- College of Science, Health, and Engineering, LaTrobe University, Bendigo, Australia
| | - Rosanna Blackman
- School of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Ipswich, Australia
| | - David Long
- School of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Ipswich, Australia
| | - Xiang-Yu Hou
- Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
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Gaither JB, Rice AD, Jado I, Armstrong S, Packard SE, Clark J, Draper S, Duncan M, Bradley B, Spaite DW. Impact of In-Station Medication Automated Dispensing Systems On Prehospital Pain Medication Administration. PREHOSP EMERG CARE 2022; 27:350-355. [PMID: 35191770 DOI: 10.1080/10903127.2022.2045405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Medication automatic dispensing systems (ADS) have been implemented in many settings, including fire-based EMS stations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of in-station ADSs on controlled substance administration rates and EMS response intervals.Methods: This study was a retrospective review of data from a single fire-based EMS agency. Medication administration rates and EMS response intervals were compared before ADS implementation (P1; 6/1/15 to 5/31/16) and after ADS implementation (P3; 6/1/17-5/31/19). Cases with missing data and during a one-year implementation period were excluded.Results: 4045 cases were identified in P1 and 8168 in P3. The odds of morphine or versed administration increased following ADS implementation: OR =1.77 (95% CI: 1.53, 2.03) and OR =1.53 (95%CI: 1.18, 2.00) respectively. There were statistically, but likely not operationally significant increases in median response interval and transport interval from P1 to P3 of 14 seconds, (p < 0.001) and 39 seconds (p< 0.001) respectively. Time at hospital for all calls decreased by more than 11 minutes for all transports, from a median of 34 minutes (IQR; 23.7, 45.5) to 22.7 minutes (IQR:18.5, 27.6) in P3, p < 0.001 and by 27.9 minutes for calls in which a controlled substance was given: P1 = 50.6 minutes (IQR: 34.6, 63.2), P3 = 22.7 minutes (IQR: 18.3, 27.4), p < 0.001.Conclusion: In this system, medication ADS implementation was associated with an increase in the rates of controlled substance administration and a decrease in the time units were at hospitals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua B Gaither
- Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center, Tucson, AZ.,Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine-Tucson, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
| | - Amber D Rice
- Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center, Tucson, AZ.,Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine-Tucson, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.,Northwest Fire District, Tucson, AZ
| | - Isrealia Jado
- Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center, Tucson, AZ.,Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine-Tucson, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
| | - Smita Armstrong
- Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center, Tucson, AZ.,Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine-Tucson, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.,University of Arizona, College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ
| | - Samuel E Packard
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY
| | | | | | | | | | - Daniel W Spaite
- Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center, Tucson, AZ.,Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine-Tucson, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.,Northwest Fire District, Tucson, AZ
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Lacour M, Bloudeau L, Combescure C, Haddad K, Hugon F, Suppan L, Rodieux F, Lovis C, Gervaix A, Ehrler F, Manzano S, Siebert JN. Impact of a Mobile App on Paramedics' Perceived and Physiologic Stress Response During Simulated Prehospital Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: Study Nested Within a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2021; 9:e31748. [PMID: 34617916 PMCID: PMC8532016 DOI: 10.2196/31748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) are stressful, high-stake events that are associated with low survival rates. Acute stress experienced in this situation is associated with lower cardiopulmonary resuscitation performance in calculating drug dosages by emergency medical services. Children are particularly vulnerable to such errors. To date, no app has been validated to specifically support emergency drug preparation by paramedics through reducing the stress level of this procedure and medication errors. OBJECTIVE This study aims to determine the effectiveness of an evidence-based mobile app compared with that of the conventional preparation methods in reducing acute stress in paramedics at the psychological and physiological levels while safely preparing emergency drugs during simulated pediatric OHCA scenarios. METHODS In a parent, multicenter, randomized controlled trial of 14 emergency medical services, perceived and physiologic stress of advanced paramedics with drug preparation autonomy was assessed during a 20-minute, standardized, fully video-recorded, and highly realistic pediatric OHCA scenario in an 18-month-old child. The primary outcome was participants' self-reported psychological stress perceived during sequential preparations of 4 intravenous emergency drugs (epinephrine, midazolam, 10% dextrose, and sodium bicarbonate) with the support of the PedAMINES (Pediatric Accurate Medication in Emergency Situations) app designed to help pediatric drug preparation (intervention) or conventional methods (control). The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Visual Analog Scale questionnaires were used to measure perceived stress. The secondary outcome was physiologic stress, measured by a single continuous measurement of the participants' heart rate with optical photoplethysmography. RESULTS From September 3, 2019, to January 21, 2020, 150 advanced paramedics underwent randomization. A total of 74 participants were assigned to the mobile app (intervention group), and 76 did not use the app (control group). A total of 600 drug doses were prepared. Higher State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-perceived stress increase from baseline was observed during the scenario using the conventional methods (mean 35.4, SD 8.2 to mean 49.8, SD 13.2; a 41.3%, 35.0 increase) than when using the app (mean 36.1, SD 8.1 to mean 39.0, SD 8.4; a 12.3%, 29.0 increase). This revealed a 30.1% (95% CI 20.5%-39.8%; P<.001) lower relative change in stress response in participants who used the app. On the Visual Analog Scale questionnaire, participants in the control group reported a higher increase in stress at the peak of the scenario (mean 7.1, SD 1.8 vs mean 6.4, SD 1.9; difference: -0.8, 95% CI -1.3 to -0.2; P=.005). Increase in heart rate during the scenario and over the 4 drugs was not different between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS Compared with the conventional method, dedicated mobile apps can reduce acute perceived stress during the preparation of emergency drugs in the prehospital setting during critical situations. These findings can help advance the development and evaluation of mobile apps for OHCA management and should be encouraged. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03921346; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03921346. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) RR2-10.1186/s13063-019-3726-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthieu Lacour
- University of Geneva, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Christophe Combescure
- University of Geneva, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.,Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Health and Community Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Kevin Haddad
- Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Geneva Children's Hospital, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Florence Hugon
- Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Geneva Children's Hospital, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Laurent Suppan
- University of Geneva, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.,Department of Emergency Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Frédérique Rodieux
- University of Geneva, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.,Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Anesthesiology, Clinical Pharmacology, Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Christian Lovis
- University of Geneva, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.,Division of Medical Information Sciences, Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Alain Gervaix
- University of Geneva, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.,Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Geneva Children's Hospital, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Frédéric Ehrler
- University of Geneva, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.,Division of Medical Information Sciences, Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sergio Manzano
- University of Geneva, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.,Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Geneva Children's Hospital, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Johan N Siebert
- University of Geneva, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.,Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Geneva Children's Hospital, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
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- See Authors' Contributions,
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