Summary: Applying The Background And Methodology Of The Research Process
Applying the Background and Methodology of the Research Process to Problems in Health Care
Debra Wilson
HCS/465
February 9, 2015
Terri Peters
Applying the Background and Methodology of the Research Process to Problems in Health Care
Background Statement
It is a widely-known fact that mistakes and errors occur in the providing of medical treatment and health care on an all too regular basis. One of the most common type of mistake or error made involves medication errors made in the medication process. Medication errors in hospitals especially, are known to be a regular occurrence. In fact, numerous studies have pointed out that medication errors, and adverse drug reactions resulting from them, are one of the foremost reasons for adverse events in hospitals that result in patient disability and death for approximately 6 1/2% of hospital patient admissions. This study, and others like it, indicate that a great many medication errors have to do with errors in doses and prescriptions, and nearly 50% of these types of errors resulted from missing actions in the medication process.
Definition of the problem
Medication errors are a well-known, and unfortunately, an all too prevalent occurrence in hospitals and similar health care settings. Additionally, written material or literature on the topic of medication errors is lacking in …show more content…
universality of clear definitions of medication errors. There is also a lack of universally acknowledged methods and criteria for studying and evaluating the frequency of medication errors, and compiling final results and figures. There is also a wide variance among different studies in the criteria that is used to assess potential clinical consequences of medication errors. Currently, there is a lack of thorough research that includes all the stages of the medication process (for a given or specific population), up to and including patient discharge summaries. Lastly, there is a lack of research regarding medication errors in all the stages of the medication process that indicates and/or includes the best or most appropriate authorized methods for use at each stage of the medication process.
On a related note, the issue or problem of medication errors is (or should be) of particular interest and importance to managers and administrators in the health care field and industry. The reasons for this are several fold. Having a prevalence or pervasiveness of medication errors taking place in, or stemming from, one’s health care facility or organization would be “bad for business” should such information become common or public knowledge. Medication errors that result in patient harm, disability, or death can readily lead to legal actions that can result in criminal and civil penalties comprised of serious consequences and stiff penalties. Obviously, such serious consequences and penalties are something health care administrators desire to avoid and wish not to occur on their watch.
Study Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate the rate of occurrence, type, and significances/ramifications of medication errors in more stages (more stages than in similar studies) of the medication process, up to and including discharge summaries. Another purpose of this study was to point out what appears to be a clear need for quality improvement in regards to the medication process, and to suggest improvements via the alteration of existing procedures and the implementation of new and better methods and procedures.
Research Question
This research study was undertaken to answer the question of how frequently medication errors occur, what types such errors are (such as errors involving ordering, transcribing, and dispensing), and what are the consequences, realized or potential, of medication errors that occur in any of the stages of the medication process.
Included are discharge summaries, which mark the point where discharged patients are on their own when it comes to administering medications to themselves properly by following instructions included in, or resulting from, hopefully correct and appropriate discharge summaries and prescriptions that accompany
them.
Hypothesis or Hypotheses
This research study was undertaken to thoroughly investigate the reasons behind, or that lead to, medication errors that occur in the stages of the medication process in a hospital setting, and affecting a select or eligible population of patients. This investigation focused on determining the frequency, type, and clinical consequences of medication errors in the medication process in order to reach a better understanding, not just of causation, but of how simplistic changes to existing procedures and implementation of safeguards/better safeguards (such as modern automated technologies that can detect and point out mistakes/errors/omissions), can equate to increasing quality improvement regarding the medication process. The researchers assumed that such changes and/or implementations could reduce, in the future at least, the number of medication error occurrences and any resulting adverse events.
Study Variables There are several items or factors that can be considered to be independent or dependent variables in this study. The medication process, especially in hospitals, follows a predetermined protocol or set of procedures. Each step or stage of the medication process can (and does) present opportunities for error. The researchers predetermined or identified the number of opportunities for medication errors in the medication process. In other words, the researchers were able to come up with a total number of opportunities for error. The total number of opportunities for error stands alone, and is not subject to change. Thus, the total number of opportunities for medication errors can be considered an independent variable. Items or factors that can (and do) change or vary (in other words, there is actual or potential fluctuation) are the frequency, type, and potential clinical consequences of medication errors. In other words, the frequency, type, and potential clinical consequences of medication errors can be considered a dependent variable.
Theoretical Framework or Conceptual Model
A theoretical framework for this study can be understood by the following: medication errors are a well-known problem in health care settings such as hospitals. The medication process (such as it is in hospitals) is fraught with opportunities for medication errors to occur, and some such errors can cause adverse events with serious consequences. Thus, there is a need for quality improvement throughout the stages of the medication process.
A conceptual framework or model can be understood by the following: The need for quality improvement in regards to the medication process can be satisfied by understanding that there are improvements that can be made which will make it possible (in theory at least) to avoid a number of medication errors from occurring. In short, such improvements can be assumed to be able to reduce the number of medication errors that occur in the medication process. Many of the improvements encompass the acquisition and utilization of modern automated solutions, such as computerized order entry, electronic discharge summaries, and barcode administering of medications. In order to prove the point that there is a need for quality improvement in the medication process, and that their suggestions for achieving improvement could help, the researchers that undertook this study conceived a research study that used three methods to detect errors in the medication process. These three methods were direct observations, unannounced control visits, and chart reviews.
Literature Review
That the literature review supported the need for this study is evident by the fact that the researchers pointed out in their study that no similar studies (at the time this research study was undertaken, published, etc…) have investigated medication errors in more stages of the medication process in the same population, up to and including, discharge summaries for patients. Additionally, the researchers stated that no similar studies have investigated medication errors in more stages in the medication process by selecting the most appropriate and valid methods that should be used at each stage of the medication process. Furthermore, the reference page for this research study contained numerous references for research studies, articles, and other literature on, or about, medication errors in hospitals and other types of health care settings. Obviously, these references point to earlier works that the researchers of this research study reviewed, evaluated, and studied, etc…, before or while they were formulating plans for their own research study. Due to this fact, it may be deduced that the researchers of this research study not only saw a need for their study, but felt that earlier studies on the subject or topic of medication errors, in their opinion, didn’t go far enough, or were lacking in some form or fashion.
Study Design
This research study was designed to be a cross-sectional study. This fact is easy to discover, since it says so near the top of page one of the published study. Even if the published study didn’t clearly state that it’s a cross-sectional study, the fact that this study examines the relationship between a health-related factor/characteristic and other variables of interest (as they exist within a predetermined population during a specific time), points to this research study having a cross-sectional study design. Another fact that points to this research study having a cross-sectional study design is that exposure (of medication errors) and accompanying outcomes were both recorded and measured at the same time. Lastly, a large portion of this research study was devoted to quantifying the prevalence or pervasiveness of a risk factor, and to quantifying the accuracy/correctness of the investigative and analytical procedures and methods used. Again, this points to this research study possessing a cross-sectional study design.
This research study’s study participants were all eligible in-hospital patients, age 18 and up. Other participants were physicians prescribing drugs, and nurses that dispensed and administered drugs. These participants had been admitted to, or were employed in, either a medical or surgical ward, located in/at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. These two wards at this hospital were randomly selected to be the settings for this research study. There were 14 male and 13 female subjects studied in the medical ward, and 16 male and 21 female subjects studied in the surgical ward. This research study was conducted from January to April of 2003.
References
Lisby, M., Nielson, L. P., Mainz, J. (2005). Errors in the medication process: frequency, type, and potential clinical consequences. International Journal for Quality in Health Care. Volume 17, p. 15-21. Retrieved from http://intqhc.oxfordjournals.org/.
Debra Wilson
HCS/465
February 9, 2015
Terri Peters
Applying the Background and Methodology of the Research Process to Problems in Health Care
Background Statement
It is a widely-known fact that mistakes and errors occur in the providing of medical treatment and health care on an all too regular basis. One of the most common type of mistake or error made involves medication errors made in the medication process. Medication errors in hospitals especially, are known to be a regular occurrence. In fact, numerous studies have pointed out that medication errors, and adverse drug reactions resulting from them, are one of the foremost reasons for adverse events in hospitals that result in patient disability and death for approximately 6 1/2% of hospital patient admissions. This study, and others like it, indicate that a great many medication errors have to do with errors in doses and prescriptions, and nearly 50% of these types of errors resulted from missing actions in the medication process.
Definition of the problem
Medication errors are a well-known, and unfortunately, an all too prevalent occurrence in hospitals and similar health care settings. Additionally, written material or literature on the topic of medication errors is lacking in …show more content…
universality of clear definitions of medication errors. There is also a lack of universally acknowledged methods and criteria for studying and evaluating the frequency of medication errors, and compiling final results and figures. There is also a wide variance among different studies in the criteria that is used to assess potential clinical consequences of medication errors. Currently, there is a lack of thorough research that includes all the stages of the medication process (for a given or specific population), up to and including patient discharge summaries. Lastly, there is a lack of research regarding medication errors in all the stages of the medication process that indicates and/or includes the best or most appropriate authorized methods for use at each stage of the medication process.
On a related note, the issue or problem of medication errors is (or should be) of particular interest and importance to managers and administrators in the health care field and industry. The reasons for this are several fold. Having a prevalence or pervasiveness of medication errors taking place in, or stemming from, one’s health care facility or organization would be “bad for business” should such information become common or public knowledge. Medication errors that result in patient harm, disability, or death can readily lead to legal actions that can result in criminal and civil penalties comprised of serious consequences and stiff penalties. Obviously, such serious consequences and penalties are something health care administrators desire to avoid and wish not to occur on their watch.
Study Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate the rate of occurrence, type, and significances/ramifications of medication errors in more stages (more stages than in similar studies) of the medication process, up to and including discharge summaries. Another purpose of this study was to point out what appears to be a clear need for quality improvement in regards to the medication process, and to suggest improvements via the alteration of existing procedures and the implementation of new and better methods and procedures.
Research Question
This research study was undertaken to answer the question of how frequently medication errors occur, what types such errors are (such as errors involving ordering, transcribing, and dispensing), and what are the consequences, realized or potential, of medication errors that occur in any of the stages of the medication process.
Included are discharge summaries, which mark the point where discharged patients are on their own when it comes to administering medications to themselves properly by following instructions included in, or resulting from, hopefully correct and appropriate discharge summaries and prescriptions that accompany
them.
Hypothesis or Hypotheses
This research study was undertaken to thoroughly investigate the reasons behind, or that lead to, medication errors that occur in the stages of the medication process in a hospital setting, and affecting a select or eligible population of patients. This investigation focused on determining the frequency, type, and clinical consequences of medication errors in the medication process in order to reach a better understanding, not just of causation, but of how simplistic changes to existing procedures and implementation of safeguards/better safeguards (such as modern automated technologies that can detect and point out mistakes/errors/omissions), can equate to increasing quality improvement regarding the medication process. The researchers assumed that such changes and/or implementations could reduce, in the future at least, the number of medication error occurrences and any resulting adverse events.
Study Variables There are several items or factors that can be considered to be independent or dependent variables in this study. The medication process, especially in hospitals, follows a predetermined protocol or set of procedures. Each step or stage of the medication process can (and does) present opportunities for error. The researchers predetermined or identified the number of opportunities for medication errors in the medication process. In other words, the researchers were able to come up with a total number of opportunities for error. The total number of opportunities for error stands alone, and is not subject to change. Thus, the total number of opportunities for medication errors can be considered an independent variable. Items or factors that can (and do) change or vary (in other words, there is actual or potential fluctuation) are the frequency, type, and potential clinical consequences of medication errors. In other words, the frequency, type, and potential clinical consequences of medication errors can be considered a dependent variable.
Theoretical Framework or Conceptual Model
A theoretical framework for this study can be understood by the following: medication errors are a well-known problem in health care settings such as hospitals. The medication process (such as it is in hospitals) is fraught with opportunities for medication errors to occur, and some such errors can cause adverse events with serious consequences. Thus, there is a need for quality improvement throughout the stages of the medication process.
A conceptual framework or model can be understood by the following: The need for quality improvement in regards to the medication process can be satisfied by understanding that there are improvements that can be made which will make it possible (in theory at least) to avoid a number of medication errors from occurring. In short, such improvements can be assumed to be able to reduce the number of medication errors that occur in the medication process. Many of the improvements encompass the acquisition and utilization of modern automated solutions, such as computerized order entry, electronic discharge summaries, and barcode administering of medications. In order to prove the point that there is a need for quality improvement in the medication process, and that their suggestions for achieving improvement could help, the researchers that undertook this study conceived a research study that used three methods to detect errors in the medication process. These three methods were direct observations, unannounced control visits, and chart reviews.
Literature Review
That the literature review supported the need for this study is evident by the fact that the researchers pointed out in their study that no similar studies (at the time this research study was undertaken, published, etc…) have investigated medication errors in more stages of the medication process in the same population, up to and including, discharge summaries for patients. Additionally, the researchers stated that no similar studies have investigated medication errors in more stages in the medication process by selecting the most appropriate and valid methods that should be used at each stage of the medication process. Furthermore, the reference page for this research study contained numerous references for research studies, articles, and other literature on, or about, medication errors in hospitals and other types of health care settings. Obviously, these references point to earlier works that the researchers of this research study reviewed, evaluated, and studied, etc…, before or while they were formulating plans for their own research study. Due to this fact, it may be deduced that the researchers of this research study not only saw a need for their study, but felt that earlier studies on the subject or topic of medication errors, in their opinion, didn’t go far enough, or were lacking in some form or fashion.
Study Design
This research study was designed to be a cross-sectional study. This fact is easy to discover, since it says so near the top of page one of the published study. Even if the published study didn’t clearly state that it’s a cross-sectional study, the fact that this study examines the relationship between a health-related factor/characteristic and other variables of interest (as they exist within a predetermined population during a specific time), points to this research study having a cross-sectional study design. Another fact that points to this research study having a cross-sectional study design is that exposure (of medication errors) and accompanying outcomes were both recorded and measured at the same time. Lastly, a large portion of this research study was devoted to quantifying the prevalence or pervasiveness of a risk factor, and to quantifying the accuracy/correctness of the investigative and analytical procedures and methods used. Again, this points to this research study possessing a cross-sectional study design.
This research study’s study participants were all eligible in-hospital patients, age 18 and up. Other participants were physicians prescribing drugs, and nurses that dispensed and administered drugs. These participants had been admitted to, or were employed in, either a medical or surgical ward, located in/at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. These two wards at this hospital were randomly selected to be the settings for this research study. There were 14 male and 13 female subjects studied in the medical ward, and 16 male and 21 female subjects studied in the surgical ward. This research study was conducted from January to April of 2003.
References
Lisby, M., Nielson, L. P., Mainz, J. (2005). Errors in the medication process: frequency, type, and potential clinical consequences. International Journal for Quality in Health Care. Volume 17, p. 15-21. Retrieved from http://intqhc.oxfordjournals.org/.