Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2017 Apr 28;6(4):e74.
doi: 10.2196/resprot.7060.

Association Between Workarounds and Medication Administration Errors in Bar Code-Assisted Medication Administration: Protocol of a Multicenter Study

Willem van der Veen  1 , Patricia Mla van den Bemt  2 , Maarten Bijlsma  1 , Han J de Gier  1 , Katja Taxis  1
Affiliations

Association Between Workarounds and Medication Administration Errors in Bar Code-Assisted Medication Administration: Protocol of a Multicenter Study

Willem van der Veen et al. JMIR Res Protoc. .

Abstract

Background: Information technology-based methods such as bar code-assisted medication administration (BCMA) systems have the potential to reduce medication administration errors (MAEs) in hospitalized patients. In practice, however, systems are often not used as intended, leading to workarounds. Workarounds may result in MAEs that may harm patients.

Objective: The primary aim is to study the association of workarounds with MAEs in the BCMA process. Second, we will determine the frequency and type of workarounds and MAEs and explore the potential risk factors (determinants) for workarounds.

Methods: This is a multicenter prospective study on internal medicine and surgical wards of 4 Dutch hospitals using BCMA systems to administer medication. We will include a total of 6000 individual drug administrations using direct observation to collect data.

Results: The project was funded in 2014 and enrollment was completed at the end of 2016. Data analysis is under way and the first results are expected to be submitted for publication at the end of 2017.

Conclusions: If an association between workarounds and MAEs is established, this information can be used to reduce the frequency of MAEs. Information on determinants of workarounds can aid in a focused approach to reduce workarounds and thus increase patient safety.

Trial registration: Netherlands Trial Register NTR4355; http://www.trialregister.nl/trialreg/admin/rctview.asp?TC=4355 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6pqTLxc6i).

Keywords: BCMA; bar code-assisted medication administration systems; bar coded medication administration; medication administration errors; medication safety, hospitals; workarounds.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of the bar code-assisted medication administration (BCMA) process in hospitals.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Breckenridge RA. Technology and patient safety: only part of the solution. Br J Hosp Med (Lond) 2010 Oct;71(10):544–5. doi: 10.12968/hmed.2010.71.10.78934. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Hagland M. CPOE and patient safety. Healthc Inform. 2011 Jun;28(6):76–8. - PubMed
    1. Handel DA, Wears RL, Nathanson LA, Pines JM. Using information technology to improve the quality and safety of emergency care. Acad Emerg Med. 2011 Jun;18(6):e45–51. doi: 10.1111/j.1553-2712.2011.01070.x. doi: 10.1111/j.1553-2712.2011.01070.x. - DOI - DOI - PubMed
    1. Holden RJ. What stands in the way of technology-mediated patient safety improvements?: a study of facilitators and barriers to physicians' use of electronic health records. J Patient Saf. 2011 Dec;7(4):193–203. doi: 10.1097/PTS.0b013e3182388cfa. http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/22064624 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Wulff K, Cummings GG, Marck P, Yurtseven O. Medication administration technologies and patient safety: a mixed-method systematic review. J Adv Nurs. 2011 Oct;67(10):2080–95. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2011.05676.x. - DOI - PubMed