Educational interventions to reduce use of unsafe abbreviations

Area of Science:

• Medical Safety
• Health Education
• Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background:

• Unsafe abbreviations and dosage designations pose significant risks in healthcare settings.
• A level 1 trauma center identified specific abbreviations and designations as high-risk.
• Standardization of medical terminology is crucial for patient safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe educational interventions aimed at reducing the use of unsafe abbreviations and dosage designations.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions in a clinical setting.
• To improve medication safety by minimizing potential errors.

Main Methods:

• Six specific unsafe abbreviations/designations were identified: 'U' for units, 'microg' for microgram, 'TIW' for three times a week, degree symbol for hour, trailing zeros, and lack of leading zeros.
• Data on abbreviation use were collected by reviewing patient order sheets over three 24-hour periods monthly.
• Educational strategies included in-service programs, pocket cards, chart dividers, stickers, and pharmacist/nurse interventions.

Main Results:

• Over an eight-month period, 20,160 orders were reviewed, with 27,663 opportunities for unsafe abbreviation use.
• The overall incidence of unsafe abbreviations decreased from 19.69% to 3.31%.
• Educational interventions demonstrated a marked reduction in the use of identified unsafe abbreviations.

Conclusions:

• Educational interventions are effective in reducing the incidence of unsafe abbreviations in medication orders.
• Implementing targeted educational strategies can significantly enhance medication safety.
• Continuous monitoring and reinforcement are key to sustaining reductions in unsafe practices.