Impact of a structured interview on beta-lactam reaction documentation quality

Area of Science:

• Clinical Pharmacy
• Infectious Diseases
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Incomplete documentation of beta-lactam (β-lactam) antibiotic reactions is a common issue.
• Poor documentation contributes to inappropriate antibiotic prescribing practices.
• Accurate reaction details are crucial for safe and effective antibiotic selection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of a structured interview in improving beta-lactam (β-lactam) reaction documentation quality.
• To determine if enhanced documentation reduces the risk of antibiotic-related adverse events.

Main Methods:

• A structured interview protocol was implemented to gather detailed information on beta-lactam (β-lactam) reactions.
• Data from 203 patient interviews were analyzed.
• The quality of documentation for core reaction components was compared before and after the intervention.

Main Results:

• Documentation of core beta-lactam (β-lactam) reaction components significantly improved post-intervention (48% vs. 1%; P < .001).
• The structured interview approach led to a substantial increase in the completeness and accuracy of reaction records.

Conclusions:

• Structured interviews are an effective tool for enhancing beta-lactam (β-lactam) reaction documentation.
• Improved documentation quality can support more appropriate antibiotic prescribing decisions.
• This intervention has the potential to improve patient safety by reducing medication errors.