Applying Research Skills- Medication Errors

Navigating the landscape of medication errors is crucial in healthcare, given their pervasive impact on patient safety and economic implications. This assessment unfolds across five key dimensions, beginning with a concise overview of medication errors, elucidating their prevalence, professional relevance, and my personal experiences. Subsequently, identifying pertinent peer-reviewed articles ensures a robust foundation, followed by a meticulous assessment of their credibility and relevance. The analytical focal point is a comprehensive annotated bibliography, culminating in a summative exploration of acquired insights, key learnings, and the enhanced understanding of medication errors.

Overview of Medication Errors

Medication errors represent a significant concern within healthcare systems worldwide, encompassing mistakes in prescribing, dispensing, administering, and monitoring medications. These errors can lead to adverse drug events, patient harm, prolonged hospital stays, and increased healthcare costs. Their consequences range from mild discomfort to severe complications, even death (Al-Worafi, 2020). Professionally, understanding medication errors is crucial for healthcare practitioners across various fields, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and allied health professionals. By recognizing the factors contributing to these errors, healthcare professionals can implement preventive measures and improve patient safety (Al-Worafi, 2020). Accordingly, in my professional experience, I have encountered medication errors while working as a nurse in a busy hospital setting. These errors often stem from factors such as miscommunication, inadequate staffing, illegible prescriptions, or medication storage issues. Witnessing the impact of such errors firsthand underscored the importance of stringent medication management protocols and interdisciplinary collaboration in ensuring patient well-being.

Identifying Peer-Reviewed Articles on Medication Errors

I employed a systematic approach to identify peer-reviewed articles relevant to medication errors. First, I utilized academic databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, and MEDLINE. These databases offer comprehensive coverage of scholarly literature in the healthcare field. Next, I employed specific keywords related to the topic, including “medication errors,” “drug administration errors,” “medication safety,” and “adverse drug events”. These keywords ensured a focused search on articles directly related to the healthcare issue. Additionally, I limited the search to articles published within the past 3-5 years to ensure the inclusion of recent research findings and to maintain relevance to current healthcare practices and trends. By adhering to these criteria and utilizing reputable databases, I aimed to identify high-quality, peer-reviewed articles that offer valuable insights into the prevalence, causes, consequences, and interventions related to medication errors in healthcare settings. This systematic approach ensured the selection of credible and up-to-date literature to inform my understanding of the topic and support evidence-based practices in healthcare.

Assessment of Selected Information Sources on Medication Errors

All selected sources are from reputable academic peer-reviewed journals, ensuring that the information undergoes rigorous evaluation by experts in the field. This process enhances the reliability and accuracy of the content, meeting scholarly standards for credibility. Each source was published within the past 3-5 years, indicating currency and relevance to current healthcare practices and trends. This ensures that the information reflects recent research findings and developments in the field of medication safety. In addition, the content of the academic peer-reviewed journal articles remains highly relevant to medication errors. Despite being published a few years ago, the findings, insights, and interventions discussed in these articles continue to inform healthcare practices and policies aimed at mitigating medication errors and improving patient safety. Overall, the selected information sources meet the criteria of being from academic peer-reviewed journals, being current in publication, and containing relevant information. Their credibility and relevance make them valuable resources for understanding and addressing medication errors in healthcare settings.

Annotated Bibliography

Alqenae, F. A., Steinke, D., & Keers, R. N. (2020). Prevalence and nature of medication errors and medication-related harm following discharge from hospital to community settings: a systematic review. Drug Safety, 43, 517-537.

This article aims to systematically review the prevalence and nature of medication errors and medication-related harm following discharge from hospital to community settings. The authors aimed to synthesize existing literature to understand the scope of medication errors during transitions of care and their associated harms. The article provides insights into the frequency, types, and consequences of medication errors occurring post-discharge through a comprehensive review of relevant studies.

The inclusion of this article in the annotated bibliography is justified by its focus on a critical aspect of medication safety—transitions of care—and its systematic approach, which ensures a comprehensive analysis of available evidence. The conclusions highlight the prevalence of medication errors during transitions from hospital to community settings and emphasize the need for interventions to mitigate these errors and improve patient outcomes. Overall, the article offers valuable insights for healthcare professionals and policymakers seeking to address medication safety challenges in transitional care settings.

Elliott, R. A., Camacho, E., Jankovic, D., Sculpher, M. J., & Faria, R. (2021). Economic analysis of the prevalence and clinical and economic burden of medication error in England. BMJ Quality & Safety, 30(2), 96-105. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjqs-2019-010206

This article aimed to conduct an economic analysis of the prevalence and clinical and economic burden of medication errors in England. The study aimed to quantify the costs associated with medication errors, including both direct healthcare costs and indirect societal costs, such as lost productivity and disability. The authors provide insights into the financial implications of medication errors on the healthcare system and society through rigorous economic modeling.

The inclusion of this article in the annotated bibliography is justified by its unique focus on the economic aspects of medication errors, complementing other articles’ discussions on prevalence and nature. The conclusions highlight the substantial economic burden imposed by medication errors in England and underscore the importance of investing in interventions to reduce errors and minimize associated costs. Overall, the article contributes valuable insights into the economic dimensions of medication safety and informs policy decisions to improve healthcare resource allocation and patient outcomes.

Manias, E., Kusljic, S., & Wu, A. (2020). Interventions to reduce medication errors in adult medical and surgical settings: A systematic review. Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety, 11, 2042098620968309. https://doi.org/10.1177/2042098620968309

This study aimed to conduct a systematic review of interventions to reduce medication errors in adult medical and surgical settings. The study analyzes existing research to identify effective strategies for mitigating medication errors and improving patient safety in clinical settings. Through a thorough review of relevant studies, the authors examined various interventions, such as educational programs, technology-based solutions, and process improvements, implemented to prevent or reduce medication errors in adult medical and surgical contexts.

The inclusion of this article in the annotated bibliography is justified by its focus on interventions targeting medication errors, which complements other articles’ discussions on prevalence and economic burden. The conclusions highlight the diverse range of interventions available to address medication errors in clinical practice and emphasize the importance of implementing multifaceted approaches tailored to specific healthcare settings. Overall, the article offers valuable insights for healthcare professionals seeking evidence-based strategies to enhance medication safety in adult medical and surgical settings.

Sutherland, A., Canobbio, M., Clarke, J., Randall, M., Skelland, T., & Weston, E. (2020). Incidence and prevalence of intravenous medication errors in the UK: A systematic review. European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy, 27(1), 3-8. https://doi.org/10.1136/ejhpharm-2018-001624

The article aims to systematically review the incidence and prevalence of intravenous medication errors in the UK healthcare system. The study aims to synthesize existing literature to understand the frequency and nature of errors associated with intravenous medication administration. The authors provide insights into the prevalence rates of intravenous medication errors across different healthcare settings and patient populations through a comprehensive review of relevant studies.

The inclusion of this article in the annotated bibliography is justified by its focus on a specific subset of medication errors—those related to intravenous administration—and its systematic approach, which ensures a thorough analysis of available evidence. The article’s conclusions highlight the significant prevalence of intravenous medication errors in the UK and underscore the need for targeted interventions to enhance the safety of intravenous medication administration practices. Overall, the article offers valuable insights for healthcare professionals striving to improve medication safety in clinical settings.

Summary of Learnings from Developing Annotated Bibliography

Through the process of developing an annotated bibliography on medication errors, I gained valuable insights into various aspects of this critical healthcare issue. Firstly, I learned about the prevalence and nature of medication errors, including their incidence during care transitions, intravenous administration, and adult medical and surgical settings. Understanding the economic burden associated with medication errors provided me with a deeper appreciation of the broader implications of these errors on healthcare systems and society. Additionally, I learned about different interventions aimed at reducing medication errors, ranging from educational programs to technological solutions.

Each source contributed to my knowledge by offering comprehensive analyses, highlighting the importance of addressing medication errors to enhance patient safety. Overall, the annotated bibliography enhanced my understanding of medication errors by providing insights into their prevalence, economic impact, and potential interventions. It underscored the multifaceted nature of medication safety challenges and emphasized the need for comprehensive strategies to mitigate errors across various healthcare settings.

References

Al-Worafi, Y. M. (2020). Medication errors. In Drug safety in developing countries (pp. 59-71). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-819837-7.00006-6

Sutherland, A., Canobbio, M., Clarke, J., Randall, M., Skelland, T., & Weston, E. (2020). Incidence and prevalence of intravenous medication errors in the UK: a systematic review. European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy, 27(1), 3-8. https://doi.org/10.1136/ejhpharm-2018-001624

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Question

Description: A medication error is a preventable adverse effect of a patient
taking the wrong medication or dosage, whether or not it is evident or harmful to
the patient. Medication errors can be a source of serious patient harm, including
death.

Applying Research Skills- Medication Errors

o Interventions: Electronic prescribing, pharmacist reviews, patient education.
o Keywords: Adverse drug events, medication reconciliation, patient safety,
medication administration, medication errors, medication safety

Applying Research Skills- Medication Errors