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Quality standards for safe medication in nursing homes: development through a multistep approach including a Delphi
Lea Domenica Brühwiler1, Andrea Niederhauser2, Simone Fischer2
1Swiss Patient Safety Foundation, Zurich, Switzerland bruehwiler@patientensicherheit.ch.
BMJ Open
|October 12, 2021
Summary
Quality standards for safe medication processes in nursing homes were developed. Eighty-five requirements address medication review, monitoring, interprofessional collaboration, and resident involvement for safer, resident-centered care.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Quality and Safety
- Geriatric Pharmacy
- Nursing Home Management
Background:
- Medication safety in nursing homes is a critical concern for resident well-being.
- Existing guidelines may not fully address the complexities of medication processes in nursing home settings.
- A need exists for standardized, evidence-based quality requirements for medication management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop normative quality standards for safe and resident-oriented medication processes in Swiss nursing homes.
- To establish minimal requirements for medication handling and professional conduct.
- To provide a framework for improving medication safety in long-term care facilities.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search and expert consultations to identify key topics.
- Development of essential requirements with literature-based rationales.
- Evaluation of requirements using a two-round Delphi study with an interprofessional panel of 25 experts.
Main Results:
- Eighty-five requirements across five key topics were validated through the Delphi study.
- Key topics include regular medication review, structured medication review and monitoring, interprofessional collaboration, and resident involvement.
- A 100% response rate in both Delphi rounds ensured comprehensive expert consensus.
Conclusions:
- Normative quality standards for safer, resident-oriented medication in Swiss nursing homes have been established.
- The 85 defined requirements provide a benchmark for medication processes and professional behavior.
- Implementation of these standards can significantly enhance medication safety and resident care in nursing homes.
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