From Mandate to Normalization: Evaluating the Embedding of an Electronic Medication System into Clinical Practice

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Digital Health
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Digital medication systems are crucial for reducing medication errors.
• Electronic medication systems aim to enhance patient safety in healthcare settings.
• Early integration challenges of mandatory digital systems require investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the early integration of a mandatory electronic medication system.
• To analyze hospital staff's perceived normalization of the digital system using Normalization Process Theory (NPT).
• To explore differences in perceived normalization based on profession and work experience.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the NoMAD questionnaire, grounded in Normalization Process Theory (NPT).
• Collected data from 153 hospital staff members.
• Performed descriptive analyses and comparative statistics based on profession and work experience.

Main Results:

• Mean scores across the four NPT constructs exceeded the scale midpoint, indicating general agreement with system normalization.
• Nurses reported significantly higher normalization scores compared to physicians (p < .01).
• No significant association was found between perceived normalization and work experience.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights varying perceptions of digital system integration among healthcare professionals.
• Profession-specific implementation strategies are essential for the sustainable adoption of digital health technologies.
• Tailoring integration approaches can improve the effectiveness of electronic medication systems.