Journal article
Interruption handling strategies during paediatric medication administration
BMJ quality & safety, v 21(11), pp 912-917
01 Nov 2012
PMID: 22791692
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Background: Interruptions are a part of many hospital settings. During medication administration, interruptions have been shown to lead to medication errors. Understanding interruption management strategies during medical management could lead to the design of interventions to reduce and mitigate related errors.
Methods: Semi-structured interviews with paediatric nurses in an in-patient setting were used to identify types of interruptions, strategies for safe medication administration and interruption management, as well as factors influencing the interruption management strategy choice. Nurses also worked through use cases and provided verbal protocols about their strategies. To confirm and refine a framework for interruption handling, on-the-job observations were also conducted.
Results: Four case studies of medication administration highlight four interruption handling strategies. Three allow the interruption: 1) the primary task is suspended so that the higher priority secondary task may be engaged immediately; 2) multi-task by dividing attention between the primary and secondary tasks; and 3) mediating the interruption with an action that supports resumption of the primary task. The fourth blocks the interruption, keeping attention on the primary task (blocking). Interviews and on-the-job observation suggest that nurses dynamically assess the primary and (interrupting) secondary tasks. They prioritise task execution based on both risk and workflow efficiency assessments. Specific interruption handling depends on both task and experience related factors.
Conclusions: Paediatric nurses have developed sophisticated strategies to manage interruptions and maintain patient safety and work efficiency during medication administration. To support a more resilient healthcare system, interruption management strategies should be supported through process, task support tools and education.
Metrics
Details
- Title
- Interruption handling strategies during paediatric medication administration
- Creators
- Lacey Colligan - University of VirginiaEllen J. Bass - University of Virginia
- Publication Details
- BMJ quality & safety, v 21(11), pp 912-917
- Publisher
- Bmj Publishing Group
- Number of pages
- 6
- Grant note
- T15LM009462 / National Library of Medicine; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Library of Medicine (NLM)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Information Science
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000310451400004
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84871932953
- Other Identifier
- 991019292136204721
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InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Web of Science research areas
- Health Care Sciences & Services
- Health Policy & Services