An interprofessional approach to improving paediatric medication safety.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Patient Safety
• Interprofessional Learning

Background:

• Medication errors in paediatric practice remain a significant patient safety concern.
• Effective team working and communication are crucial for safe clinical practice.
• Limited evidence exists on optimal teaching methods for these competencies in future healthcare practitioners.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an interprofessional workshop for undergraduate students on paediatric drug prescribing and administration.
• To enhance knowledge, core competencies, communication, and team working skills.
• To address the gap in effective pedagogical approaches for medication safety.

Main Methods:

• An interprofessional, ward-based workshop was designed for 4th-year medical and 3rd-year nursing students.
• Learning was facilitated through practical application and collaborative activities.
• Evaluation used pre- and post-workshop questionnaires with open-ended responses.

Main Results:

• Students reported increased knowledge and awareness of paediatric medication safety and error causes (p < 0.001).
• Significant positive shifts in attitudes towards shared learning were observed, particularly in interprofessional settings.
• Qualitative data indicated improved communication, teamworking, and understanding of other professionals' roles.

Conclusions:

• An interprofessional approach to teaching drug prescribing and administration effectively bridges the knowledge-skills gap.
• This educational strategy has the potential to significantly improve the quality and safety of healthcare.
• Collaborative learning among diverse healthcare disciplines enhances medication safety competencies.