Interruptions during medication work in a Saudi Arabian hospital: An observational and interview study of nurses

To examine the nature of the interruptions during medication work.

An exploratory descriptive design was used with 28 nurses during 15 medication rounds in the medical, surgical, and gynecology wards at a 1000-bed tertiary teaching hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Non-participant prospective observational and follow-up interview methods were used to collect data. A standard paper-based tool and digital stopwatch to count the interruptions were used. Nurses' sources, the secondary tasks undertaken, and the impacts of the interruptions were considered. The data were analyzed via descriptive analysis.

A total of 87 medication-related events occurred. In these, 182 interruptions accounted for 90.0% of the total. Interruptions were more frequent during medication administration and often occurred in the corridors and patients' rooms. Nurses, medical officers, and impediments were frequent sources of interruptions. The secondary tasks attended by the nurses were mostly related with impediment resolutions and patients' needs. System failures appeared to be associated with clinical and procedural errors.

The results of this study provide information regarding the course of interruptions during medication work in a Saudi Arabian hospital. Nurses were the main source of interruptions related with the provision of patient care and resolution of impediments. Interruptions tended to be associated with clinical errors and procedural failures due to system failure. Promoting a culture of respect and workplace etiquette in global healthcare settings demands minimizing non-life-threatening interruptions during nursing works.

Strategies used in hospital management systems that affect nursing, pharmacies, human resources, and ancillary service department collaborations should be monitored for effectiveness and to ensure patient safety. Various approaches toward medication management systems, such as the utilization of an Omnicell automatic dispensing machine and cabinets within each patient's room, as well as others, such as wearing a "no-interruption zone" sign, could be tailored and matched to the context of the practice to reduce interruptions.