User-testing guidelines to improve the safety of intravenous medicines administration : a randomised in-situ simulation study

Jones, Matthew D and McGrogan, Anita and Raynor, D K and Watson, Margaret C and Franklin, Bryony Dean (2021) User-testing guidelines to improve the safety of intravenous medicines administration : a randomised in-situ simulation study. BMJ Quality and Safety, 30 (1). pp. 17-26. ISSN 2044-5415 (https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjqs-2020-010884)

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Abstract

Background: User-testing and subsequent modification of clinical guidelines increases health professionals' information retrieval and comprehension. No study has investigated whether this results in safer care. Objective: To compare the frequency of medication errors when administering an intravenous medicine using the current National Health Service Injectable Medicines Guide (IMG) versus an IMG version revised with user-testing. Method: Single-blind, randomised parallel group in situ simulation. Participants were on-duty nurses/midwives who regularly prepared intravenous medicines. Using a training manikin in their clinical area, participants administered a voriconazole infusion, a high-risk medicine requiring several steps to prepare. They were randomised to use current IMG guidelines or IMG guidelines revised with user-testing. Direct observation was used to time the simulation and identify errors. Participant confidence was measured using a validated instrument. The primary outcome was the percentage of simulations with at least one moderate-severe IMG-related error, with error severity classified by an expert panel. Results: In total, 133 participants were randomised to current guidelines and 140 to user-tested guidelines. Fewer moderate-severe IMG-related errors occurred with the user-tested guidelines (n=68, 49%) compared with current guidelines (n=79, 59%), but this difference was not statistically significant (risk ratio: 0.82; 95% CI 0.66 to 1.02). Significantly more simulations were completed without any IMG-related errors with the user-tested guidelines (n=67, 48%) compared with current guidelines (n=26, 20%) (risk ratio: 2.46; 95% CI 1.68 to 3.60). Median simulation completion time was 1.6 min (95% CI 0.2 to 3.0) less with the user-tested guidelines. Participants who used user-tested guidelines reported greater confidence. Conclusion: User-testing injectable medicines guidelines reduces the number of errors and the time taken to prepare and administer intravenous medicines, while increasing staff confidence. Trial registration number: Researchregistry5275.

ORCID iDs

Jones, Matthew D, McGrogan, Anita, Raynor, D K, Watson, Margaret C ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8198-9273 and Franklin, Bryony Dean;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)