Determining the Credibility of Evidence and Resources

Sample Solution

Medication Errors: A Quality and Safety Issue

Medication errors are a serious problem in healthcare. They can cause harm to patients, and they can also waste resources. According to the Institute of Medicine, medication errors are responsible for an estimated 100,000 deaths each year in the United States.

Full Answer Section

There are many different types of medication errors. Some of the most common errors include:

• Giving the wrong medication
• Giving the wrong dose of medication
• Giving the medication to the wrong patient
• Giving the medication at the wrong time
• Giving the medication by the wrong route

Medication errors can occur at any stage of the medication process, from prescribing to dispensing to administering. There are a number of factors that can contribute to medication errors, including:

• Human factors, such as fatigue, stress, and distractions
• System factors, such as poor communication and inadequate training
• Drug names that are similar or look alike
• Medications that are available in multiple strengths or dosage forms

There are a number of things that can be done to prevent medication errors. These include:

• Using electronic prescribing systems
• Implementing double-checking procedures
• Standardizing medication names and abbreviations
• Educating healthcare professionals about medication safety

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is the use of the best available evidence to make decisions about healthcare. EBP can be used to improve the quality and safety of care by providing healthcare professionals with the information they need to make informed decisions.

There is a growing body of evidence on the effectiveness of different interventions to prevent medication errors. For example, studies have shown that electronic prescribing systems can reduce medication errors by up to 50%. Double-checking procedures can also be effective in preventing medication errors.

EBP can be used to identify the most effective interventions to prevent medication errors. It can also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions that have already been implemented.

By using EBP, healthcare professionals can make informed decisions about how to prevent medication errors and improve the quality and safety of care.

In addition to the above, here are some other credible evidence that could be used as the basis for applying EBP to the issue of medication errors:

• A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that hospitals that implemented electronic prescribing systems had a significantly lower rate of medication errors than hospitals that did not.
• A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that double-checking procedures can reduce the risk of medication errors by up to 30%.
• A study published in the British Medical Journal found that patient education about medication safety can help to reduce the risk of medication errors.

These are just a few examples of the credible evidence that is available on the prevention of medication errors. By using EBP, healthcare professionals can make informed decisions about how to improve the quality and safety of care.