Developing evidence-based medication therapy management tools for psychiatric nurses: An evaluative qualitative case...

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Psychiatric Nursing
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Psychotropic medication use in clinical settings presents significant risks.
• Effective nursing interventions are crucial for mitigating these risks.
• A need exists for structured tools to support evidence-based medication management in psychiatric care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an Evidence-Based Medication Therapy Management Guideline.
• To create a Medication Administration-Tracking Chart for psychiatric units.
• To evaluate the utility and impact of these tools through a case study.

Main Methods:

• Development of an Evidence-Based Medication Therapy Management Guideline and a Medication Administration-Tracking Chart.
• An evaluative case study involving 10 nurses in a 123-bed psychiatric unit.
• Data collection via personal forms, interviews, medication charts, and researcher observations; analysis using Merriam's case study method.

Main Results:

• Development of three themes and 12 sub-themes related to tool implementation.
• Nurses reported that the tools addressed information gaps, improving medication therapy management effectiveness and safety.
• Participants noted enhanced nursing care quality, continuity, and positive patient outcomes, expressing a desire for consistent tool use.

Conclusions:

• The developed tools hold significant potential for enhancing medication safety and psychiatric patient care.
• Nurses exhibited an approach/avoidance conflict regarding evidence-based tools, influenced by experience.
• Routine implementation is expected to bolster nurses' expertise in psychotropic medication management, improving patient outcomes.