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Drug handling in a paediatric intensive care unit: can errors be prevented by a three-step intervention?

<p>Drug handling in paediatric intensive care units (PICU) is prone to medication errors. We aimed to identify type and prevalence of those errors and to assess preventative interventions.</p> <p>Prospective intervention study investigating a 3-step intervention for preventing erro...

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Main Authors: Niemann, Dorothee (Author) , Bertsche, Astrid (Author) , Meyrath, David (Author) , Oelsner, S. (Author) , Ewen, A. L. (Author) , Pickardt, Björn von (Author) , Henhapl, T. (Author) , Hoffmann, Georg F. (Author) , Meyburg, Jochen (Author) , Bertsche, Thilo (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 31. März 2014
In: Klinische Pädiatrie
Year: 2014, Volume: 226, Issue: 02, Pages: 62-67
ISSN:1439-3824
DOI:10.1055/s-0033-1364030
Online Access:Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0033-1364030
Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0033-1364030
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Author Notes:D. Niemann, A. Bertsche, D. Meyrath, S. Oelsner, A.L. Ewen, B. Pickardt, T. Henhapl, G. Hoffmann, J. Meyburg, T. Bertsche
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Summary:<p>Drug handling in paediatric intensive care units (PICU) is prone to medication errors. We aimed to identify type and prevalence of those errors and to assess preventative interventions.</p> <p>Prospective intervention study investigating a 3-step intervention for preventing errors in drug handling in a 10-bed PICU of a university hospital. Nurses’ drug handling was mon­itored in daily routine to identify the number of patients affected by errors and overall prevalence and types of errors in drug handling. We implemented a comprehensive intervention consisting of an information handout, a training course, and a 76-page reference book tailored to reduce the prevalence.</p> <p>The prevalence of errors in drug han­dling decreased from 83% (555 errors/668 pro­cesses) to 63% (554/883; p<0.001) after the intervention. The number of affected patients remained unchanged (95% vs. 89%, p=0.370). Peroral (PO) drugs (1.33 errors/process) were more error-prone than intravenous (IV) drugs (0.64), despite being used less frequently (27% vs. 73% of all processes, p<0.001). The interventions decreased the prevalence to 0.77 errors/process (p<0.001) in PO and to 0.52 in IV drugs (p=0.025).</p> <p>Errors in drug handling were alarmingly frequent. PO drugs were frequently subject to errors, even though being used less frequently. The implementation of a comprehensive intervention succeeded in reducing the prevalence of errors. Yet further refinements are necessary to decrease also the number of affected patients.</p>
Item Description:Gesehen am 13.08.2020
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1439-3824
DOI:10.1055/s-0033-1364030

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