Impact of automated dispensing cabinets on dispensing errors, interruptions and pillbox preparation time

AIM

This work aimed to evaluate the impact of automated dispensing cabinets on the dispensing error rate, the number of interruptions, and pillbox preparation times.

METHODS

A prospective observational study was conducted across 16 wards in two departments (internal medicine and surgery) of a large teaching hospital. The study compared eight wards using automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs) and eight using a traditional ward stock (TWS) method. A disguised observation technique was used to compare occurrences of dispensing errors and interruptions and pillbox preparation times. The proportion of errors was calculated by dividing the number of doses with one or more errors by the total number of opportunities for error. Wards participating in the 'More time for patients' project-a Lean Management approach-were compared with those not participating. The potential severity of intercepted errors was assessed.

RESULTS

Our observations recorded 2924 opportunities for error in the preparation of 570 pillboxes by 132 nurses. We measured a significantly lower overall error rate (1.0% vs 5.0%, p=0.0001), significantly fewer interruptions per hour (3.2 vs 5.7, p=0.008), and a significantly faster mean preparation time per drug (32 s vs 40 s, p=0.0017) among ADC wards than among TWS wards, respectively. We observed a significantly lower overall error rate (1.4% vs 4.4%, p=0.0268) and a non-significantly lower number of interruptions per hour (3.8 vs 5.1, p=0.0802) among wards participating in the 'More time for patients' project.

CONCLUSIONS

A high dispensing-error rate was observed among wards using TWS methods. Wards using ADCs connected to computerised physician order entry and installed in a dedicated room had fewer dispensing errors and interruptions and their nurses prepared pillboxes faster. Wards participating in a Lean Management project had lower error rates than wards not using this approach.

What influences the implementation and sustainability of antibiotic stewardship programmes in hospitals? A qualitative study of antibiotic pharmacists' perspectives across South West England

OBJECTIVES

Antibiotic stewardship programmes (ASPs) are needed at every hospital as they can improve antibiotic use and address antibiotic resistance. Pharmacists are key agents and specialists in these programmes. This study explored antibiotic pharmacists' perceptions of factors that influence the implementation and sustainability of hospital-based ASPs.

METHODS

Semistructured interviews were conducted with hospital antibiotic pharmacists face-to-face or by telephone. NVivo V.12 software was used to collate and organise the data grouped within codes. Thematic analysis was undertaken using inductive and deductive approaches to produce overarching themes.

RESULTS

Thirteen pharmacists from 13 hospitals were interviewed. Four main themes were identified: (1) 'organisational culture' which highlighted the importance of strong local clinical leadership to help achieve organisational buy-in and address resistance among physicians or clinical hierarchies; (2) 'national influences' including networks, guidance and incentive schemes which were considered to be a driver to bring about changes across organisation; (3) 'continuous monitoring with feedback ASP data, preferably through direct communication' to demonstrate the impact of the programmes which then facilitated ongoing support from local leadership and improved engagement across organisation; and (4) 'resources' which indicated the need of information technology and dedicated personnel with protected time to support ASP activities.

CONCLUSIONS

Interventions and strategies should operate at different levels-individual, team, organisational and national-to help implement and sustain ASPs in hospital. This is also the first study to identify and highlight the importance of national initiatives in contributing to the implementation and sustainability of hospital-based ASPs.

Levofloxacin induced bullous fixed drug eruption: a rare case report

A 42-year-old male patient visited the outpatient department for follow-up with a history of respiratory tract infection and diabetes mellitus. His main symptom was peeling of his epidermal layer of skin, and bullous fixed drug eruption on the lower and upper limbs and bank region of the body. Following assessment, the patient was prescribed levothyroxine, hydroxychloroquine, levofloxacin, and a combination of sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. On assessing causality of the adverse drug reaction (ADR), different ADR assessment scales such as the WHO-UMC Scale, Naranjo Scale, and Hartwig's Severity Assessment Scale were used, and the ADR was found by these scales to be 'likely', 'moderate', and 'probable', respectively. It was found that ADRs such as bullous fixed drug eruptions are not fatal but can cause patient anxiety and a reduced quality of life. This case report will help physicians and clinicians to become aware and vigilant about the ADR caused by levofloxacin, facilitating its early detection and management.

Outcomes of Clostridioides difficile infection in adult cancer and non-cancer patients hospitalised in a tertiary hospital: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is one of the most common healthcare-associated (HA) infections. Cancer patients, particularly haemato-oncological patients, have an increased risk for CDI due to more risk factors compared with non-cancer patients. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in outcomes associated with HA CDI in patients with solid and haematological malignancies compared with patients with no underlying malignant disease in a tertiary healthcare centre in Serbia.

METHODS

A prospective cohort study was conducted including adult patients diagnosed with an initial episode of HA CDI. Their demographic and clinical characteristics associated with risk factors for CDI were documented. Outcomes such as all-cause 30-day mortality, cure of infection, diarrhoea relaps and recurrence of disease were followed. Patients were assigned to cancer and non-cancer groups. Within the cancer group, patients were divided into the solid tumour subgroup and haematological malignancy subgroup.

RESULTS

During a 7-year period, HA CDI was observed in 28 (5.1%) patients with haematological malignancy, 101 (18.3%) patients with solid tumours and 424 (76.7%) non-cancer patients. Older age (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.07, p<0.001), admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) (OR 2.61, 95% CI 1.37 to 4.95, p=0.003), mechanical ventilation (OR 5.19, 95% CI 2.78 to 9.71, p<0.001) and use of antibiotics prior to CDI (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.06, p=0.02) were associated with increased mortality. Compared with patients with solid tumours, patients with haematological malignancy were younger (65 vs 57 years, p=0.015), did not require ICU admission (25.0% vs 0%) or mechanical ventilation (8.9% vs 0%) and were treated longer with antibiotics prior to CDI (14 vs 24 days, p=0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with haematological malignancy were exposed to different risk factors for CDI associated with mortality compared with patients with solid tumours and non-cancer patients. Older age, ICU stay and mechanical ventilation, but not presence or type of cancer, predicted the all-cause 30-day mortality.

Assessment of the effectiveness of a pharmacist approach for improving disease-specific knowledge and treatment in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

OBJECTIVE

Adequate knowledge is essential for the appropriate management of chronic conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, some patients may not be able either to comprehend or obtain adequate information. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of the clinical pharmacist approach to refining disease-specific knowledge in patients with COPD treated in a tertiary care hospital.

METHODS

A prospective observational longitudinal study was carried out in adult COPD patients for 9 months in the tertiary care hospital of Pune. At the time of enrolment, disease-specific knowledge of patients with COPD was assessed using the Bristol COPD Knowledge Questionnaire (BCKQ). After the assessment, patients were educated, counselled verbally and provided with a validated COPD information leaflet. The patients' knowledge was reassessed 1 month and 3 months after enrolment. Pre and post scores of BCKQ were compared by ANOVA followed by Tukey's post hoc test. The difference in the proportions was calculated using the χ² test.

RESULTS

Of 75 patients, the majority were men (53.33%), aged >60 years (72%), employed (62.67%) and had obtained secondary education (37.33%). The mean baseline BCKQ overall score of the patients was 25.87, which increased after education to 42.43 on the first visit (1 month) and to 45.62 on the second visit (3 months) (p<0.0001). At baseline, the topics 'vaccination', 'inhaled steroids' and 'antibiotics' returned the lowest mean scores of 0.37, 0.38 and 0.60, which were increased to 2.30, 2.70 and 2.72, respectively, after follow-up.

CONCLUSION

The knowledge of patients with COPD about the disease and its treatment was poor at the time of enrolment. Proper counselling and education provided by the clinical pharmacist helped to improve the patients' knowledge about COPD and its treatment.

World Café: a proactive approach to working with mentors

Mentors are vital for supporting nursing students' learning in practice, but increasing demands on registered nurses can make this a challenging part of their role. This article describes how a new education team in Jersey used the World Café approach to working with mentors on a mentor update day. It explains how the café environment helped mentors to share ideas, develop opportunities to support students' learning in practice areas, increase interdepartmental working and increased communication between the education department and mentors.