Journal article
Understanding complexity in a safety critical setting: A systems approach to medication administration
Applied Ergonomics, Vol.110, pp.1-39
2023
PMID: 36958252
Abstract
‘Medication errors’ are a significant concern and are associated with a higher incidence of adverse events and unintentional patient harm than any other aspect of healthcare. While much research has focused on adverse medication errors, limited studies have specifically examined ‘normal’ medication delivery performance and the interactions between tasks, agents, and information within the medication administration system. This article describes a study that applied the Event Analysis of Systemic Teamwork (EAST) model to study the hospital medication administration system to identify opportunities to optimise performance and patient safety. Key findings of this study demonstrate that this is a highly complex system, comprising many social agents and a relatively closely linked series of tasks and information. However, most of the workload relies on a small proportion of healthcare professionals. Significantly, the patient has a minimal role in the medication administration system during their hospital stay. The research has shown that this approach enables mapping networks and their interdependencies to optimise the system as a whole rather than its parts in isolation.
Details
- Title
- Understanding complexity in a safety critical setting: A systems approach to medication administration
- Authors
- Erin L. Stevens (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Law and SocietyAdam Hulme (Author) - University of QueenslandNatassia Goode (Author) - WorkSafe VictoriaLauren Coventon (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Centre for Human Factors and Sociotechnical SystemsGemma Read (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Law and SocietyPaul M. Salmon (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Centre for Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems
- Publication details
- Applied Ergonomics, Vol.110, pp.1-39
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.apergo.2023.104000
- ISSN
- 1872-9126
- PMID
- 36958252
- Organisation Unit
- Centre for Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health - Psychology; School of Law and Society
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99715098602621
- Output Type
- Journal article
Metrics
50 Record Views
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Engineering, Industrial
- Ergonomics
- Psychology, Applied
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Source: InCites