Catharina C de Jong1, Wynand J G Ros2, Mia van Leeuwen3, Guus Schrijvers2. 1. Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands; Stichting Transmurale Zorg Den Haag EO, The Hague, Netherlands. Electronic address: c.c.dejong-8@umcutrecht.nl. 2. Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands. 3. Stichting Transmurale Zorg Den Haag EO, The Hague, Netherlands.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Errors in the electronic medication administration record (eMAR) occur in 25.6% of cases, mainly due to communication errors. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the quality of the eMAR improves when patients play a vigilant role by checking their medication using a patient communication tool linked to their eMAR (eMAR-PCT) to communicate asynchronously with the pharmacist about errors. Effects on health outcomes and self-care are also explored. METHODS: In this quasi-experimental study, polypharmacy patients using five or more medications were randomly selected and invited to use their eMAR-PCTs. Participants also received two digital questionnaires assessing health and self-care (week 0 and 26). Statistical analyses were performed on two subgroups: eMAR-PCT users and non-users. RESULTS: An inclusion rate of 43.5% (n=152) was achieved. Women were more prevalent than men among the users group (56.4% vs. 43.6%). Among the eMAR-PCT users, 75% logged in more than once, and 17.9% communicated asynchronously with the pharmacist. The content of the e-mails shows that eMAR-PCT was used as intended. No improvement in the quality of the eMAR was found. The self-care variables self-efficacy (p=.006) and collaboration with the pharmacist (p=.021) showed significant improvement in the users group. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION: The results showed no effect on eMAR quality and a modest improvement in self-care. Active digital patient participation to improve the quality of eMAR merits further investigation as, in line with other research, tentatively positive results are shown on self-care. Possibilities for implementation are promising as half of the patients who pledged to use eMAR-PCT actually did, and used it as intended.
OBJECTIVE: Errors in the electronic medication administration record (eMAR) occur in 25.6% of cases, mainly due to communication errors. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the quality of the eMAR improves when patients play a vigilant role by checking their medication using a patient communication tool linked to their eMAR (eMAR-PCT) to communicate asynchronously with the pharmacist about errors. Effects on health outcomes and self-care are also explored. METHODS: In this quasi-experimental study, polypharmacy patients using five or more medications were randomly selected and invited to use their eMAR-PCTs. Participants also received two digital questionnaires assessing health and self-care (week 0 and 26). Statistical analyses were performed on two subgroups: eMAR-PCT users and non-users. RESULTS: An inclusion rate of 43.5% (n=152) was achieved. Women were more prevalent than men among the users group (56.4% vs. 43.6%). Among the eMAR-PCT users, 75% logged in more than once, and 17.9% communicated asynchronously with the pharmacist. The content of the e-mails shows that eMAR-PCT was used as intended. No improvement in the quality of the eMAR was found. The self-care variables self-efficacy (p=.006) and collaboration with the pharmacist (p=.021) showed significant improvement in the users group. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION: The results showed no effect on eMAR quality and a modest improvement in self-care. Active digital patient participation to improve the quality of eMAR merits further investigation as, in line with other research, tentatively positive results are shown on self-care. Possibilities for implementation are promising as half of the patients who pledged to use eMAR-PCT actually did, and used it as intended.
Authors: Julia M Kim; Catalina Suarez-Cuervo; Zackary Berger; Joy Lee; Jessica Gayleard; Carol Rosenberg; Natalia Nagy; Kristina Weeks; Sydney Dy Journal: Patient Date: 2018-04 Impact factor: 3.883
Authors: Hae-Ra Han; Kelly T Gleason; Chun-An Sun; Hailey N Miller; Soo Jin Kang; Sotera Chow; Rachel Anderson; Paul Nagy; Tom Bauer Journal: JMIR Hum Factors Date: 2019-12-19
Authors: Jennifer E Prey; Fernanda Polubriaginof; Lisa V Grossman; Ruth Masterson Creber; Demetra Tsapepas; Rimma Perotte; Min Qian; Susan Restaino; Suzanne Bakken; George Hripcsak; Leigh Efird; Joseph Underwood; David K Vawdrey Journal: J Am Med Inform Assoc Date: 2018-11-01 Impact factor: 4.497