UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

The potential role of smart infusion devices in preventing or contributing to medication administration errors: a descriptive study of two datasets

Jani, Y; Chumbley, GM; Furniss, D; Blandford, A; Franklin, B; (2020) The potential role of smart infusion devices in preventing or contributing to medication administration errors: a descriptive study of two datasets. Journal of Patient Safety 10.1097/PTS.0000000000000751. (In press). Green open access

[thumbnail of Jani_The_Potential_Role_of_Smart_Infusion_Devices_in.99104.pdf]
Preview
Text
Jani_The_Potential_Role_of_Smart_Infusion_Devices_in.99104.pdf - Published Version

Download (173kB) | Preview

Abstract

Objectives: Errors in medication administration are common, with many interventions suggested to reduce them. For intravenous infusion–related errors, “smart infusion devices” incorporating dose error reduction software are widely advocated. Our aim was to explore the role of smart infusion devices in preventing or contributing to medication administration errors using retrospective review of 2 complementary data sets that collectively included a wide range of errors with different levels of actual or potential harm. Methods: We reviewed 216 medication administration errors identified from an observational study in clinical practice and 123 medication incidents involving infusion devices reported to a national reporting system. The impact of smart infusion devices in preventing or contributing to these errors was assessed by the research team and an expert panel. Results: The data suggest that use of any infusion device rather than gravitational administration may have prevented 13% of observed errors and 8% of reported incidents; additional reductions may be possible with standalone smart infusion devices, and further potential reductions with smart infusion devices integrated with electronic prescribing and barcode administration systems. An estimated 52% to 73% of errors that occurred with traditional infusion pumps could be prevented with such integrated smart infusion devices. In the few cases where smart infusion devices were used, these contributed to errors in 2 of 58 observed errors and 7 of 8 reported incidents. Conclusions: Smart infusion devices not only prevent some medication administration errors but can also contribute to them. Further evaluation of such systems is required to make recommendations for policy and practice.

Type: Article
Title: The potential role of smart infusion devices in preventing or contributing to medication administration errors: a descriptive study of two datasets
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1097/PTS.0000000000000751
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1097/PTS.0000000000000751
Language: English
Additional information: This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > UCL School of Pharmacy
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > UCL School of Pharmacy > Practice and Policy
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Computer Science
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10100067
Downloads since deposit
101Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item