Georgia Tobiano1,2, Wendy Chaboyer3, Gemma Dornan4, Trudy Teasdale4, Elizabeth Manias5. 1. National Health and Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence in Wiser Wound Care, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport, QLD, 4222, Australia. g.tobiano@griffith.edu.au. 2. Gold Coast University Hospital, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, 1 Hospital Blvd, Southport, QLD, 4215, Australia. g.tobiano@griffith.edu.au. 3. National Health and Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence in Wiser Wound Care, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport, QLD, 4222, Australia. 4. Gold Coast University Hospital, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, 1 Hospital Blvd, Southport, QLD, 4215, Australia. 5. School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University and Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Increasing age is associated with more medication errors in hospitalised patients. Patient engagement is a strategy to reduce medication harm. AIMS: To measure older patients' preferences for and reported medication safety behaviours, identify the relationship between preferred and reported medication safety behaviours and identify whether perceptions of medication safety behaviours differ between groups of young-old, middle-old and old-old patients (65-74 years, 75-84 years, and ≥ 85 years). METHODS: A survey, which included the Inpatient Medication Safety Involvement Scale (IMSIS) was administered to 200 older patients from medical settings, at one hospital. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Spearman's rho and the Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: Patients reported a desire to ask questions (59.5% n = 119) and check with healthcare professionals if they perceived that a medication was wrong (86.5% n = 173) or forgotten (87.0% n = 174). Patients did not have particular preferences, which differed from their experiences in terms of viewing the medication administration chart and self-administering medications. Preferred and reported behaviours correlated positively (r = 0.46-0.58, n = 200, p ≤ 0.001). Young-old patients preferred notifying healthcare professionals of perceived medication errors more than middle-old and old-old patients (p ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Older patients may prefer verbal medication safety behaviours like asking questions and notifying healthcare professionals of medication errors, over viewing medication charts and self-administering medications. The young-old group wanted to identify perceived medication errors more than other age groups. Older patients are willing to engage in medication safety behaviours, and healthcare professionals and organisations need to embrace this engagement in an effort to reduce medication harm.
BACKGROUND: Increasing age is associated with more medication errors in hospitalised patients. Patient engagement is a strategy to reduce medication harm. AIMS: To measure older patients' preferences for and reported medication safety behaviours, identify the relationship between preferred and reported medication safety behaviours and identify whether perceptions of medication safety behaviours differ between groups of young-old, middle-old and old-old patients (65-74 years, 75-84 years, and ≥ 85 years). METHODS: A survey, which included the Inpatient Medication Safety Involvement Scale (IMSIS) was administered to 200 older patients from medical settings, at one hospital. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Spearman's rho and the Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: Patients reported a desire to ask questions (59.5% n = 119) and check with healthcare professionals if they perceived that a medication was wrong (86.5% n = 173) or forgotten (87.0% n = 174). Patients did not have particular preferences, which differed from their experiences in terms of viewing the medication administration chart and self-administering medications. Preferred and reported behaviours correlated positively (r = 0.46-0.58, n = 200, p ≤ 0.001). Young-old patients preferred notifying healthcare professionals of perceived medication errors more than middle-old and old-old patients (p ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Older patients may prefer verbal medication safety behaviours like asking questions and notifying healthcare professionals of medication errors, over viewing medication charts and self-administering medications. The young-old group wanted to identify perceived medication errors more than other age groups. Older patients are willing to engage in medication safety behaviours, and healthcare professionals and organisations need to embrace this engagement in an effort to reduce medication harm.
Authors: Paul A Harris; Robert Taylor; Robert Thielke; Jonathon Payne; Nathaniel Gonzalez; Jose G Conde Journal: J Biomed Inform Date: 2008-09-30 Impact factor: 6.317
Authors: Debra Matsen Picone; Marita G Titler; Joanne Dochterman; Leah Shever; Taikyoung Kim; Paul Abramowitz; Mary Kanak; Rui Qin Journal: Am J Med Qual Date: 2008-02-27 Impact factor: 1.852