Assessing the Role of Pharmaceutical Technical Assistents in Hospital Wards: Measuring Efficiency and Medication Safety
Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorVitaz
About this trial
The goal of this interventional study is to evaluate the impact of implementing pharmaceutical technical assistants (PTAs) to support the medication process on hospital wards on operational efficiency and medication safety among nurses and pharmaceutical technicial assistants. The main questions it aims to answer are:
* What is the effect of PTAs on the time spent by (night) nurses on medication dispensation? * How does their involvement influence unplanned interactions between nursing staff and the pharmacy? * What is the impact of PTAs on the safety of medication processes, including missed or delayed doses, accuracy of dispensed medication, and reported medication errors?
Researchers will compare periods with and without the involvement of PTAs in the medication management process on the hospital ward to assess differences in:
* Time spent on medication dispensation. * Frequency of unplanned interactions between hospital wards and the pharmacy. * Rates of missed or delayed medication doses. * Accuracy of dispensed medication compared to prescriptions. * Reported medication errors.
During the observed medication dispensation processes, involved nurses and PTAs will:
* Be observed while preparing medications to measure time and interruptions. * Provide data on medication errors and delays through digital systems and reports. * Complete a demographic questionnaire about their professional background. This study involves both intervention and control periods, allowing researchers to measure the specific effects of PTAs' involvement in medication processes.
Eligibility criteria
This trial accepts healthy volunteersQualifiers
Medication dispensation moments must be performed by nurses during the nightshift. .
Nurses included must have at least six months of experience working night shifts.
Medication dispensation moments must be performed by PTAs.
PTAs included must have at least six months of experience specifically in medication dispensation tasks.
Disqualifiers
None
Trial design
Design model
Single group
Treatments tested in this trial
Pharmaceutical technical assistants supported medication dispensation on the hospital ward
Other interventionPharmaceutical technical assistants (PTAs) visit the hospital ward for two hours in the morning or afternoon to dispense medications for admitted patients for the following day. Night nurses then complete any final additions or adjustments as needed.
Treatment groups
50 Participants
are divided into 1 treatment groupGroup A: PTAs dispensing medicationsExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Time spent on medication dispensation on the hospital ward
Intervention Period: Observing and recording the time the Pharmaceutical Technical Assistant (PTA) spends dispensing medication on the hospital ward. This is followed by observing and recording the time the night nurse takes to complete the medication dispensation for the next day. Control Period: Observing and recording the time the night nurse spends dispensing medication for the next day without PTA involvement.
Time frame
Data collection was conducted over five days during the control period and five days during the intervention period on each of the included hospital wards.Secondary outcomes
1
Dispensing errors
Intervention Period: Verifying the accuracy of medication dispensed by the PTA, including recording the number and type of errors identified. Control Period: Verifying the accuracy of medication dispensed by the night nurse, including recording the number and type of errors identified.
Time frame
Data collection was conducted over five days during the control period and five days during the intervention period on each of the included hospital wards.2
Delayed and omitted medication doses
Intervention Period: Reviewing the electronic medication system for the day the PTA prepared the medication. This includes recording the number of delayed or missed doses, the name and type of medication involved, and the reasons for the delay or non-administration. Control Period: Reviewing the electronic medication system for the day the night nurse dispensed the medication. This includes recording the number of delayed or missed doses, the name and type of medication involved, and the reasons for the delay or non-administration.
Time frame
Data collection was conducted over five days during the control period and five days during the intervention period on each of the included hospital wards.3
Reported Medication Errors
Collecting the reported medication errors from the hospital's incident reporting system during both the intervention and control periods.
Time frame
Data collection was conducted over five days during the control period and five days during the intervention period on each of the included hospital wards.4
Interdepartmental Communication Between Pharmacy and Hospital Ward
The exchange of information and updates between the pharmacy and the hospital ward to ensure accurate medication preparation, timely delivery, and proper administration. During both the intervention and control periods, this communication includes coordinating medication orders, addressing discrepancies, managing urgent requests, and providing guidance or clarifications as required.
Time frame
Data collection was conducted over five days during the control period and five days during the intervention period on each of the included hospital wards.Sponsors and contacts
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
Vitaz
Lead sponsor
Universiteit Antwerpen
Collaborator
University of Applied Sciences Utrecht
Collaborator
Source ClinicalTrials.gov
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