Qualitative and Quantitative Studies on Medication Safety Practices

This article discusses the findings and limitations of a qualitative and quantitative study on medication safety practices among graduate nurses. The qualitative study explores nurses' perspectives and experiences related to reducing medication errors, while the quantitative study examines the impact of workplace supports and relationships on safe medication practices. The findings reveal the importance of workplace supports and communication in promoting medication safety. The article concludes with recommendations for improving medication safety in clinical settings.

Guided questions Answer Template (Please do not Remove the questions)
Guided Question Qualitative Study (Smeulers et al., 2017) Quantitative Study (Sahay, Hutchinson & East, 2015).
1. Aim and
Significance (5
marks 200 words)
a. What was the aim and
significance of the study?
The main purpose of this research is to
examine nurses perceptive and experience
related to reducing medication
administration error and promoting safety of
patient.
Research in this area is significant because
medication error is a major reason for
morbidity and mortality and nurse are more
likely to engage in such errors as they
spend maximum time with patient. As the
review of research papers revealed that
many disruptive behaviour increase their
risk of medication errors for nurse,
exploring nurses opinion regarding the
factors that lead to medication can help to
implement effective support system for
The primary aim for this study was to explore graduat
nurse’s self-reported data on medication errors and
establish whether the nature of workplace supports,
and relationships were associated with medication
errors or safe medication practices among graduate
nurses’’.
This research is essential as it investigates the
importance of workplace supports for the graduate
nurses to establish error free medication practices.
Moreover, the newly graduates nurses lacks familiarity
within the workplace and they do not pose enough
problem-solving skills. Thus, to develop clinical
confidences and practice safe medication
administration, it is essential to investigate the
workplace supports for graduate nurses.

nurses.
2. Methods (10 marks
700 words)
a. Identify the
research design used
in the study and was
it appropriate for the
issue discussed?
Qualitative exploratory research design
was used to get answer to the research
question. Exploratory research design is
used in qualitative study to explore the
research topic with varying level of depths.
The main advantage of this type of
research is that it helps to understand
research topic with varying level of depths
(Creswell & Creswell, 2017).
Hence, the use of exploratory design is
appropriate for the study by Smeulers et al.
(2017) because the research aimed to
collect broad perspective on the experience
of perspective of nurse related to
prevention of medication errors and
barriers to its application.
The main research design that has been used in this
quantitative research study was exploratory and
descriptive. This can be said because both numerical
and descriptive statistics were used to interpret
research data.
Although it is a quantitative research method, the use
of descriptive method is appropriate for the study
because it help to effectively analyse the research
variables including workplace supports and impact of
work relationship on nurse’s ability to report about
medication errors. This approach can help to develop
conceptual understanding of the research variables.
The advantage of using descriptive approach is that it
helps in rich data collection by gathering in-depth
information from research participants (Edmonds &
Kennedy, 2016).
b. Discuss the sampling
technique, inclusion and
To select appropriate sample for the study,
snowball sampling technique was used.
Sampling is a technique for study in which from the
population a researcher selects subjects. Furthermore,

exclusion criteria used for
the selection of sample in
the study
This involves first approaching nurse
managers and safety managers in the
study via e-mail followed by snowballing by
getting the name of nurse from other
department. Snowball sampling is a
technique in which research participants
recruit other group of participants in the
study. The type of sampling technique is
employed when it is difficult to find the
desired sample group for the study
(Emerson, 2015). However, use of this
sampling technique was not appropriate for
this study because it is easy to get
registered nurse using normal sampling
technique. There was no need for this type
of sampling technique.
The only inclusion criteria for the selection
of sample was that registered nurse should
be included in the study. However, there is
no exclusion criterion. Defining nurses
based on experience and age would have
helped to understand how perspective
it is a process by which the sample from the population
is selected. In this quantitative study, recent University
graduate nurses were selected as participants for the
sample. Convenience sampling technique was used to
recruit study sample. This was done by the use of
recent graduate database from three Australian nursing
schools and estimating these nurses would have active
email accounts, the survey link was send to recruit
sample and complete the survey (Emerson, 2015).
The inclusion criteria for the study included recent
graduates. However, use of this sampling technique is
not appropriate as it may contribute to biases because
of failure to retain desired sample group.

differs based on experience.
c.Explore the data
collection method and its
appropriateness to the
research design of the
study
The data for this study was collected by
semi-structured interview method. Interview
was done with each research participant for
60-90 minutes and it had questions based
on research aim and objective. Interview
method is appropriate for this study design
because it a common method for data
collection in qualitative papers. Interviews
allow researchers to collect data as per
study aim and objectives and critically
explore the response in-depth. The
advantage of interview method compared
to other data collection method is that it
helps to accurately capture emotions and
opinion related to the field of interest.
Survey method was used for data collection. However,
instead of directly conducting survey with research
sample by meeting ethical consent and informed
consent requirement, the research used databases of
recent graduates to send survey link and complete the
survey. Although use of online survey is appropriate for
quantitative research papers, however the manner in
which survey links has been send is a limitation that
affects the validity as well as reliability of the research
findings. There is high likelihood that the sample may
not be representative of the population because all
recent graduates might not have accessed the account
on time. Hence, instead of relying on database, directly
contacting schools and meeting recent graduates
would have helped to collect reliable data for the study.
3. Data analysis and
results (10 marks
600 words)
a.How was the data
analysed and was it
appropriate for the study?
The data analysis for this study was done
using thematic approach. Guidelines for
qualitative research and MAXQDA10 were
The survey data was analysed using descriptive
statistics like standard deviations and Spearsman
correlation and Statistic Package for Social Sciences

used for data analysis. After this thematic
approach was used for data analysis by
independently coding each interviews and
developing most relevant themes based on
nurse’s experiences. The theme was
developed by sorting text fragment and
analyszing them. Hence, it can be
concluded that thematic approach was
used for data analysis in the study.
The use of thematic approach is
appropriate as the research design is
qualitative and thematic approach is a
common method of data analysis for this
research design. The main advantage of
this approach is that favours interpretation
of data by identifying common meaning in
research data. It is also very flexible
method allowing researchers to explore
topic from different angles.
(SPSS) version 20. Use of both this software is
appropriate as it may help to identify correlation
between different research variables and identify the
significance of the study findings. The participants
perception related to education, learning support were
analysed using five point Likert scale. As it was a
quantitative research design, use of five point Likert
scale is effective for quantitative data analysis. It can
help to interpret the level of problem faced by patients.
b.What were the
findings/results of the
study?
The key findings obtained from the study
were grouped into three themes. The first
theme discussed about nurse’s role and
The study findings revealed relations between work
support and rate of medication errors. Work area was
not found to influence medication error rate. However,

responsibilities in medication safety and it
revealed that all nurse feel responsible for
maintaining safety during medication
administration. The second theme of
nurse’s ability to work safely revealed that
awareness of risk varied for all staffs and
the third theme of nurse’s acceptance of
safety practices revealed interruptions and
distractions as barrier to safe medication
administration. These finding indicates that
nurse need to be supported to decrease
any uncertainty and errors during the
procedure. The findings give the implication
to expand resources for nurse and
manager so that they are well-equipped to
safely administer drugs to patient.
work relationship seriously affected medication error
and performance as nurse reported feeling pressured
by physicians and bullying as a barrier to safe
medication use. Hence, these findings indicate that
hostile and disruptive behaviour at workplace can
significantly influence graduate nurse’s medication
practices. The study also revealed the significance of
communication in health care as this can enhance
confidence of nurse and promote safety of patients.
The findings can be applied in clinical setting to
improve work relationship and take effective response
in relation to workplace bullying and intimidation
experiences of nurse. It can facilitate development of
continuing education programs for nurse.
c.Discuss the limitations
and recommendations of
the study?
One factor that limits the quality and
generalisability of the study includes
conducting study only in single centre and
use of snowball sampling technique. The
recommendations are to develop
appropriate hospital policy so that nurses
Use of convenience sampling technique and method of
data collection are a major limitation of these study
design as it contributes to research biases because of
failure to select sample representation of target
population group. There is lot of uncertainty in this form
of data collection method. Instead of relying on

knowledge and skills related to medication
safety is enhanced.
convenience sampling method, some efforts and rigour
should have been used to directly contact recent
graduates and include them in research following
informed consent.
As the study had methodological limitation, the study
recommended conducting the same research on a
large scale to further confirm the relation between
workplace bullying and patient safety. The information
from this study would help to develop appropriate
continuing education programs for nurse and develop
their skills related to safe medication practices. Future
research with strong research is an effective
recommendation to explore the topic in-depth and
address gaps found in this research paper.
References:
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2017). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage
publications.

Edmonds, W. A., & Kennedy, T. D. (2016). An applied guide to research designs: Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods.
Sage Publications.
Emerson, R. W. (2015). Convenience sampling, random sampling, and snowball sampling: How does sampling affect the validity of
research?. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 109(2), 164-168.
Sahay, A., Hutchinson, M., & East, L. (2015). Exploring the influence of workplace supports and relationships on safe medication
practice: A pilot study of Australian graduate nurses. Nurse education today, 35(5), e21-e26.
Smeulers, M., Onderwater, A. T., van Zwieten, M. C., & Vermeulen, H. (2014). Nurses' experiences and perspectives on
medication safety practices: an explorative qualitative study. Journal of Nursing Management, 22(3), 276-285.