Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior in the administration of medication in the home care setting: Cross-cultural Spanish adaptation

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study is to validate and adapt the "Knowledge Attitute and Behaviour in the administration of medication in the home care setting questionnaire" in the home care setting in Cordoba, Spain, through a cross-validation process.

Design: Cross-sectional study SAMPLE: 106 community nurses provide home care in Cordoba, and are involved in the management of the medication process in the patient's home.

Measurements: Community nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors toward medication error prevention strategies in-home care.

Results: For the evaluation of psychometric properties, Cronbach's α was calculated, which returned a value of 0.639, showing good internal consistency. Most participants agreed that the home care setting increases the risk of medication errors.

Conclusion: The study, underscores the importance of analyzing the phenomenon of medication errors in the home care setting. The characteristics and peculiarities of a home care setting are different from a hospital setting, which means that factors such as the environment, the figures involved in the care process (caregivers and/or family members), and the way in which they communicate with the rest of the multi-professional team can influence both the type of errors and the likelihood of their occurrence.

Keywords: community nurses; cross-validation study; home care setting; medication errors; patient safety.