Validity of Qualitative and Quantitative Evidence

Analyzing Published Research

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Analyzing Published Research

A medication error in healthcare is an avoidable mistake or incident that results in incorrect pharmaceutical administration and hurts a patient who is being treated by a medical professional. These mistakes can occur when a medicine is prescribed when documented in the hospital’s electronic system, or in the administration process. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimates that medical errors occur in the U.S are more than 100,000 in number each year, where wrong dose medication errors are among the most common errors (Nguyen et al., 2018). These incidents include mistakes committed by patients, medical staff, and drug manufacturers. Medication errors that occur due to the administration of wrong doses of medications can result in prolonged hospitalization, disability, physical defects, life-threatening problems, and even fatalities (Killin et al., 2021). 

Significance of the Problem

Medication errors are harmful to patients and can result in morbidity and, in severe situations, fatalities. As a result, it is crucial to prevent them from happening. Medication errors also have a detrimental impact on the reputation or image of the organizations, which results in bad press because of the related poor health outcomes. These costs are considerable for both the government and healthcare institutions. Establishing efficient strategies and treatments to prevent pharmaceutical errors, enhance patient safety in hospitals, and reduce other significant risks is crucial, as they are one of the leading causes of patient fatalities (Nguyen et al., 2018). Safe drug administration promotes a low rate of medication errors and enhances patient outcomes. To avoid or limit the number of medical errors, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare personnel must make sure the appropriate patient receives their prescribed medicines in the right doses when it is required. Taking care of this problem will cut down on the financial expenses of drug errors, including increased lengths of hospital stay and lawsuits against healthcare organizations and personnel.

Purpose of the Paper

           The purpose of this paper is to interpret two published articles that were the best choice for addressing the clinical problem and answering the group's question. 

Description of Findings

Variables

           In Uhlenhopp et al. (2020), the hospital-wide medication history technician (MHT) program was the independent variable, while the documentation of individual risk factors for discrepancies of medication, home prescription errors, and the benefits of medication error reduction in relation to cost-effectiveness were the dependent variables. In Digiantonio et al. (2018), a pharmacy-led medication reconciliation program was the independent variable, while the number of discrepancies related to medications provided in either the triage noted by the nursing, student, or by a physician was the dependent variable. 

Methods

Uhlenhopp et al. (2020) used a prospective observational study design and mixed methods for data collection, while Digiantonio et al. (2018) employed a retrospective study design and mixed data methods for their research. Both studies achieved a level of confidence of 95%.  

Participants

Without regard to gender, race, or health status, Uhlenhopp et al. (2020) included 817 participants who were 18 years of age or older and admitted to the critical care, emergency room, and common medical units. Patients from long-term rehabilitation, behavioral health, pediatric, and obstetric units were omitted. Additionally, individuals who had scheduled catheterizations and surgeries and those who had been admitted to residential homes were disqualified. In their study, Digiantonio et al. (2018) included 200 adult patients hospitalized at Sarasota Memorial Hospital's emergency department between October 1, 2015, and November 17, 2015. The patients included had at least three prescriptions for home medication according to the history taken by medication reconciliation staff and had one high-risk medication examined by specialists. 

Instruments

Uhlenhopp et al. (2020) used Open source software, MARQUIS Implementation Manual Guidelines, likelihood ratio test, and Akaike Information Criterion instruments for data collection and analysis. These instruments have been used in other studies, which made them reliable and valid in this study. Digiantonio et al. (2018) used a standardized electronic data collection method as the main tool for data collection. Patient information, however, was recorded in the electronic chart to record the interviews. The National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention (NCC MERP) measure was used for medication differences that emerged during pharmacist intervention. The clinical severity scoring tool was used to categorize medication discrepancies further. Excel 2010 was used for data analysis as a descriptive statistic. All the instruments used were reliable and valid as they were revised and used before. 

Implications for Future Work

By lowering medical errors and enabling early detection of medical errors, both research articles demonstrated considerable benefits of adopting medication reconciliation programs to improve patient safety. These published articles' conclusions address the clinical issue by describing in precise detail what reconciliation programs are, how to use them to lower medication errors and the considerable risks for medication errors in different patients. The next step is determined how effectively can a medication reconciliation program implemented in practice? and who are eligible to be involved for successful implementation of the program.

Conclusion

           The evidence gained to resolve the medical issue, is the usage and adoption of electronic medication resolution systems in facilities that offer inpatient services to lessen problems connected to medical errors. The problem significance information explains why it is important to deal with medication errors in the most efficient methods because medication errors contribute to negative patient outcomes. To determine the reliability of the selected papers, an evaluation of their factors and study tools was required. Future applications of the findings include qualified medication reconciliation professionals in medication reconciliation practices and program execution.

References

Digiantonio, N., Lund, J., & Bastow, S. (2018). Impact of a pharmacy-led medication reconciliation program.  P & T,  43(2), 105–110

Killin, L., Hezam, A., Anderson, K. K., & Welk, B. (2021). Advanced medication reconciliation: a systematic review of the impact on medication errors and adverse drug events associated with transitions of care.  The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety,  47(7), 438-451. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjq.2021.03.011

Nguyen, M. N. R., Mosel, C., & Grzeskowiak, L. E. (2018). Interventions to reduce medication errors in neonatal care: a systematic review.  Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety,  9(2), 123-155. https://doi.org/10.1177/2042098617748868

Uhlenhopp, D. J., Aguilar, O., Dai, D., Ghosh, A., Shaw, M., & Mitra, C. (2020). Hospital-wide medication reconciliation program: error identification, cost-effectiveness, and detecting high-risk individuals on admission.  Integrated Pharmacy Research & Practice,  9, 195–203. https://doi.org/10.2147/IPRP.S269857