Authors and affiliation (s):
Tejaswi Ubhe1,*, Rutuja Dokh1, Shweta Bhujbal1, Nupuri Joshi2, Trupti Tuse3, Manoj Pisure4
1Department of Pharm. D, Abhinav Education Society’s College of Pharmacy (B. Pharm), Narhe, Pune, Maharashtra, INDIA.
2Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Abhinav Education Society’s College of Pharmacy (B. Pharm), Narhe, Pune, Maharashtra, INDIA.
3Department of Pharmacology, Abhinav Education Society’s College of Pharmacy (B. Pharm), Narhe, Pune, Maharashtra, INDIA.
4Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Clinical Pharmacologist, Sahyadri Super Specialty Hospital, Deccan, Pune, Maharashtra, INDIA.
Abstract
Background: Not administering medicines as per the prescribed guidelines can result in subtherapeutic or toxic effects by taking dose too early or too late. It could have a negative impact on the patient or resulting in an additional financial burden. Materials and Methods: A Prospective observational study was carried out in the inpatients of tertiary care hospital. Total 400 patients and 1050 medication administrations were studied over a period of 6 month for timely medication administration. The error was assessed using ISMP (Institute for Safe Medication Practices) guidelines. Results: The numbers of females were 146 and 254 males forming total 400 patients. Total 1050 medication administrations were evaluated, 681time critical and 369 medication administrations were non-time critical. Before awareness program, out of 515 medication administrations 263 were on time (51.07%), while 252 administrations deviated from the scheduled time (48.93%). After awareness program, out of 535 medication administrations, 413 were on time (77.20%), while 122 administrations deviated from the scheduled time (22.80%). Difference in scheduled time and administration time for time critical medication administrations, was reduced by 22 min 33 sec±11 min 58 sec after the awareness program, while for non-time critical medication administrations the time was reduced by 12 min 14 sec±9 min 87 sec, after the awareness program. Conclusion: Timely administration of medications is crucial to prevent harm and therapeutic failure. Educating nursing staff can help prevent errors improve patient care.
Keywords: Heavy patient load, ISMP guidelines, Time critical medications, Timely medication administration.