Related Experiment Videos
Self-administration of medicines
Nursing Standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987)
|January 9, 1991
Summary
Patient self-administration of medicines in hospitals offers significant advantages, outweighing disadvantages. Controlled programs enhance patient independence and ease post-discharge transitions, with guidelines provided for specific patient needs.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Pharmacology
- Patient Care
Background:
- Patient self-administration of medicines is increasingly recognized in hospital settings.
- Understanding its benefits and drawbacks is crucial for effective implementation.
- This article is part of a series on nurse prescribing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the advantages and disadvantages of patient self-administration of medicines in hospital.
- To explore how self-administration impacts patient independence and discharge.
- To offer guidelines for managing specific patient populations.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and expert opinion synthesis.
- Analysis of benefits versus risks in a hospital context.
- Consideration of patient-specific challenges (e.g., visual, dexterity deficits).
Main Results:
- The advantages of patient self-administration considerably outweigh the disadvantages.
- Controlled self-administration programs accelerate patient progress toward independence.
- Programs can simplify the transition period after hospital discharge.
Conclusions:
- Patient self-administration, when managed properly, is beneficial for patient recovery and independence.
- Guidelines are essential for safe and effective implementation, especially for vulnerable patients.
- Further integration of self-administration supports patient-centered care models.