Behavioural changes in medication safety: Consequent to an action research intervention

Area of Science:

• Healthcare quality improvement
• Patient safety research
• Behavioral science in medicine

Background:

• Healthcare professionals require continuous adaptation to evolving medication therapy protocols.
• Staff behavior is a critical determinant for sustainable improvements in medication safety.
• Action research offers a framework for engaging healthcare workers in driving behavioral change.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effectiveness of action research in cultivating enhanced medication safety behaviors within emergency medicine settings.
• To assess the impact of staff engagement on the development and implementation of medication safety practices.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of two action research cycles within an emergency department setting.
• Data collection via pre- and post-medication safety surveys, unstructured interviews, and field notes.
• Collaborative engagement of emergency department staff throughout the study cycles.

Main Results:

• Initial evaluation identified deficits in staff medication safety behaviors.
• Post-intervention analysis demonstrated significant improvements in medication safety behaviors.
• Introduction of ward pharmacists and a new medication error response policy, informed by qualitative data.
• Field notes indicated enhanced patient care, increased pharmaceutical knowledge, and a positive shift in the departmental climate.

Conclusions:

• Action research effectively facilitated the implementation of targeted interventions to improve medication safety behaviors in the emergency department.
• Active staff involvement was instrumental in achieving sustainable changes in safety practices.
• Recommendations include pharmacist-led medication therapy, interprofessional safety training, and improved communication channels between staff and management.