AIM: The study aims to determine the impact of a quality improvement intervention on how accurately and suitably medicines are supplied to residents of residential aged-care facilities (RACFs). METHODS: Between September 2012 and January 2013, pharmacy-supplied dose administration aids (DAAs) were audited at 45 Victorian RACFs (Australia). RACFs had previously received an intervention (education session/toolkit) and were involved in an earlier DAA audit. Recently supplied DAAs containing regular medicines were compared to prescriber-prepared medicine charts to identify, and classify risks of, inaccurate or unsuitable packing incidents. RESULTS: Of 2389 DAAs audited for 983 residents, 770 incidents in 502 DAAs were identified. The overall DAA incident rate increased significantly from 11.5% pre-intervention to 21.0% post-intervention (P < 0.001). The proportion of DAAs affected by incidents classified as 'insignificant' or 'minor' risk increased post-intervention (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Further wide-scale evaluation of RACF medicine supply services is needed. Interventions that are effective in reducing DAA incidents should be explored.
AIM: The study aims to determine the impact of a quality improvement intervention on how accurately and suitably medicines are supplied to residents of residential aged-care facilities (RACFs). METHODS: Between September 2012 and January 2013, pharmacy-supplied dose administration aids (DAAs) were audited at 45 Victorian RACFs (Australia). RACFs had previously received an intervention (education session/toolkit) and were involved in an earlier DAA audit. Recently supplied DAAs containing regular medicines were compared to prescriber-prepared medicine charts to identify, and classify risks of, inaccurate or unsuitable packing incidents. RESULTS: Of 2389 DAAs audited for 983 residents, 770 incidents in 502 DAAs were identified. The overall DAA incident rate increased significantly from 11.5% pre-intervention to 21.0% post-intervention (P < 0.001). The proportion of DAAs affected by incidents classified as 'insignificant' or 'minor' risk increased post-intervention (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Further wide-scale evaluation of RACF medicine supply services is needed. Interventions that are effective in reducing DAA incidents should be explored.
Authors: Seungwon Jeong; Yusuke Inoue; Yasuyuki Arai; Hideki Ohta; Takao Suzuki Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-02-18 Impact factor: 3.390