Abstract
Background: Medication management is a procedure that ensures high standards of patient care and safety by careful management of the medication journey from supply and storage through to prescribing, administration and the monitoring of outcomes. This study was conducted to understand the level of healthcare practitioners’ involvement and actions within the medication management process through non-participatory observation.
Method: This study involving 100 healthcare practitioners from each of six government-run hospitals in Kuwait. Staff consented to being observed across the medication management process over a two week period, reviewing current patient information, updating and completing missing information, double checking the medication during dispensing and administration and providing patients with information about their medications. Primary data were collected and stratified using random sampling, where each profession was a separate group, and the observational data collected within each group. Ethical approval was gained from the Kuwait Ministry of Health, each individual hospital site, and the University of Wolverhampton Ethics in Human Research Committee.
Results: The study observations highlighted strengths and weaknesses within the various departments in the six hospital sites studied. It further highlighted the significance and uniqueness of each healthcare professionals’ role in medication management based on their profession and responsibilities. The major issues revealed were: reviewing current patient information, completing missing information, double-checking medication before dispensing or administering it to patients, and providing patients with information about their medications. Performance of the observed activities was impacted by workload and setting where the interaction between patients and professionals occurred.
Discussion: The findings from these observations were similar to findings in many other countries and provide valuable information for planning improvements.
Conclusion: The value of participatory observation, as a part of a regional quality assurance audit program, was demonstrated by this study. Improvement could be achieved in all the aspects of the medication management process investigated.
Method: This study involving 100 healthcare practitioners from each of six government-run hospitals in Kuwait. Staff consented to being observed across the medication management process over a two week period, reviewing current patient information, updating and completing missing information, double checking the medication during dispensing and administration and providing patients with information about their medications. Primary data were collected and stratified using random sampling, where each profession was a separate group, and the observational data collected within each group. Ethical approval was gained from the Kuwait Ministry of Health, each individual hospital site, and the University of Wolverhampton Ethics in Human Research Committee.
Results: The study observations highlighted strengths and weaknesses within the various departments in the six hospital sites studied. It further highlighted the significance and uniqueness of each healthcare professionals’ role in medication management based on their profession and responsibilities. The major issues revealed were: reviewing current patient information, completing missing information, double-checking medication before dispensing or administering it to patients, and providing patients with information about their medications. Performance of the observed activities was impacted by workload and setting where the interaction between patients and professionals occurred.
Discussion: The findings from these observations were similar to findings in many other countries and provide valuable information for planning improvements.
Conclusion: The value of participatory observation, as a part of a regional quality assurance audit program, was demonstrated by this study. Improvement could be achieved in all the aspects of the medication management process investigated.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Pharmacy at the Frontline |
| Volume | 1 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 2022 |