Improving medication error reporting in hospice care

Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2009 Oct-Nov;26(5):361-7. doi: 10.1177/1049909109335145. Epub 2009 May 5.

Abstract

The aims of this study are to determine the incidence of medication errors, characterize the type/severity of errors, and estimate the impact of an educational intervention on medication error processes in a hospice population. Medication errors from 2 hospice organizations were collected and coded for type of error/outcome severity. The educational intervention included a 2-hour in-service and twice weekly reminders. A survey to assess participants' change in knowledge and attitudes regarding medication error reporting through the study period and was administered at 3 different time points. Data analysis revealed that medication error reporting increased in one hospice program, that participants' ability to correctly identify medication errors increased (P < .001), and awareness of medication errors in hospice care increased (P < .01) after the intervention.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Health Personnel / education
  • Hospice Care / standards*
  • Humans
  • Maryland
  • Medication Errors / prevention & control
  • Medication Errors / statistics & numerical data*
  • Pilot Projects
  • Quality Assurance, Health Care