Anne Pihl, RN, Master of Health Science, PhD Student, Department of Nursing Science, University of Eastern Finland
Introduction
The basis for the success of a patient's drug treatment is that the right medication and its intended use are clear for both the patient and health professionals. Patient involvement in collecting medication data will help to improve the accuracy of medication information. The World Health Organization instructs to actively utilize the data of a patient or relatives when collecting medication information as the patient is usually provided with the latest medication data. The updating of medication information can be defined in several different ways. As common it doesn´t exist difficult to agree common practices for implementing and so it makes difficult to implement the process.
Principles and characteristics of action research is the cyclical process and it includes collaborative elements. In action research both researchers and practioners work together in whole working process. The cyclical process always includes problems recognition, research planning, implementation, assessment, reflection and then re-plan.
Aims
The purpose of this research for the years 2019-2022 is to create harmonized good practice updating of medication information of the patients of emergency departments. The specific objective is to create consistent, up-to-date medication information practices to update good practices for emergency departments. The aim of this presentation is to describe the study protocol of ongoing study.
Methods
The description of the current was conducted in spring 2019 in two central hospitals emergency departments in Finland. The data was collected using observations of staff members (n=500) while they updated patients´ (n=700) medication information and conducting surveys both staff members and patients, multifunctionality. Multifunctionality is a multiprofessional way of working in a network where developer partners work alongside professionals. Additionally, a systematic literature review was produced in 2019 previous literature of the updating medication information and will review existing medication information updating programmes or guidelines. Using the information and opinions of emergency staff members, the medication updating programme will be developed. The programme will be evaluated half year after implementing the programme in autumn of 2020 by observations of staff members while updating. It’s done by observing, searching for background information, organizational, patient information, and polyclinic visit information as well as training of personnel information, the hazards and dangers event notifications medication harm as well as collecting information from staff and patients. The final phase of the study, one year after the start of the action plan in spring 2021, will be followed by observation and, if necessary, further development of the action program. In summer 2021, the programme for updating will be completed for the medication information of the patients coming to the emergency departments.
Conclusion
The results will be exploited at both national and international level in the development of up-to-date medical treatment of the patients in emergency department in multidisciplinary cooperation. The starting point for this study is multifunctional. The aim is to improve medication safety and to save human resources.
Keywords: Action Research, medication information, emergency department, observation, multifunctionality
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