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Cues to improve antibiotic-allergy registration: A mixed-method study
Martijn Sijbom1, Karolina K Braun1, Frederike L Büchner1
1Department of Public Health and Primary Care Campus-Den Haag, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Background:
Approximately 2% of patients in primary care practice and up to 25% of hospital patients are registered as being allergic to an antibiotic. However, up to 90% of these registrations are incorrect, leading to unnecessary prescription of 2nd choice antibiotics with the attendant loss of efficacy, increased toxicity and antibiotic resistance. To improve registration, a better understanding is needed of how incorrect labels are attributed.
Objective:
To investigate the quality of antibiotic allergy registration in primary care and identify determinants to improve registration of antibiotic allergies.
Design:
Registration of antibiotic allergies in primary care practices were analysed for 1) completeness and 2) correctness. To identify determinants for improvement, semi-structured interviews with healthcare providers from four healthcare domains were conducted.
Participants:
A total of 300 antibiotic allergy registrations were analysed for completeness and correctness. Thirty-four healthcare providers were interviewed.
Main Measures:
A registration was defined as complete when it included a description of all symptoms, time to onset of symptoms and the duration of symptoms. It was defined as correct when the conclusion was concordant with the Salden criteria. Determinants of correct antibiotic allergy registrations were divided into facilitators or obstructers.
Key Results:
Rates of completeness and correctness of registrations were 0% and 29.3%, respectively. The main perceived barriers for correct antibiotic allergy registration were insufficient knowledge, lack of priority, limitations of registration features in electronic medical records (EMR), fear of medical liability and patients interpreting side-effects as allergies.
Conclusions:
The quality of antibiotic allergy registrations can be improved. Potential interventions include raising awareness of the consequences of incomplete and the importance of correct registrations, by continued education, and above all simplifying registration in an EMR by adequate ICT support.
Insights
Incorrect antibiotic allergy registrations are common, with only 29.3% being correct. Improving antibiotic allergy documentation requires better electronic medical record (EMR) systems and healthcare provider education.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Pharmacy
- Health Informatics
- Patient Safety
Background:
- Antibiotic allergy registrations affect 2% of primary care patients and up to 25% of hospital patients.
- However, up to 90% of these registrations are inaccurate, leading to suboptimal antibiotic choices.
- This necessitates understanding the reasons behind incorrect antibiotic allergy labeling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the quality of antibiotic allergy registrations in primary care settings.
- To identify factors influencing the accuracy of antibiotic allergy documentation.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 300 antibiotic allergy registrations for completeness and correctness.
- Semi-structured interviews with 34 healthcare providers across four domains to identify determinants of registration quality.
Main Results:
- Completeness rate was 0%, and correctness rate was 29.3%.
- Key barriers included insufficient knowledge, low priority, EMR limitations, liability concerns, and patient misinterpretation of side effects.
- Facilitators and obstructers for accurate registration were identified.
Conclusions:
- Significant improvement is needed in antibiotic allergy registration quality.
- Interventions should focus on raising awareness, continuing education, and enhancing electronic medical record (EMR) functionalities for simplified and accurate documentation.
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