Healthcare Policy: Drug Round Tabards Study Report and Analysis

This report analyzes the Verweij study conducted in a Dutch university hospital, investigating the effectiveness of drug round tabards in reducing interruptions and medication administration errors (MAEs) during medication rounds. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining a before-after study design with focus group discussions to assess the impact of tabards on distraction incidents and MAEs. The findings revealed significant reductions in both interruptions and MAEs after the implementation of tabards. The report draws conclusions regarding the impact of interruptions caused by nurses and colleagues and the effectiveness of tabards in decreasing distractions and MAEs. It also explores implications for clinical practice, emphasizing the need for strategies to minimize non-medication-related interruptions and improve hygiene practices. The report highlights the importance of evidence-based practice among caregivers in minimizing distractions and MAEs to enhance patient safety.

Running head: DRUG ROUND TABARDS 1
Quiet Please! Drug Round Tabards: Are They Effective and Accepted? A Mixed-Method
Study
Student Name
Course Name and Number
Date

DRUG ROUND TABARDS 2
Quiet Please! Drug Round Tabards: Are They Effective and Accepted? A Mixed-Method Study
Introduction
This study aimed at evaluating effects of drug round tabards on distractions, medication
administration errors (MAEs), besides the extent of the association of interruptions with MAEs
while dispensing medicines in hospital wards. Additionally, this research also explored nurse’s
views as well as experiences with tabards to recognize challenges besides enablers for
implementation.
The study used the mixed methods study approach, before-after study design, for collecting
the distraction incidences besides MAEs throughout medicines administration before and after
using tabards in three wards of a Netherland university hospital. Also, comprehensive
perspectives and nurses’ experiences were consolidated through a focus group discussion to
obtain an understanding of obstacles and enablers for implementing the drug round tabards. In
this regard, 313 drug administration were observed, and substantial reductions were postulated as
follows: 75 percent reductions in distractions and 66 percent in MAEs.
Conclusions
Being professionals with a mandate to provide care to patients, the study shows that most
interruptions during ward rounds were caused by nurses as well as other colleagues relative to
consumers of healthcare services. Although indicated as insignificant in this study, distractions
have a significant effect on MAEs from other similar reviews.
Using tabards while administering drugs in wards caused a substantial decrease in
interruptions besides MAEs. Yet, the association between a minimization of distractions and a
decrease in MAEs cannot be abundantly explained.

DRUG ROUND TABARDS 3
This research shows that the number of MAEs while implementing the drug round tabards
can be influenced by other factors such as hygienic conditions of tabards. For instance, if tabards
are not sterile, they can cause infection risks because of the presence of a positive general culture
of pathogenic microorganisms.
Implications for Practice
Since nurses’ interruptions can affect the extent of MAEs during the application of tabards
while dispensing medicines as indicated by similar studies, caregivers need to change their
behavior during ward rounds. According to Schutijser et al. (2018), most errors in providing
medication are caused by nurses’ distractions. In this case, there is a critical need to consider the
kinds of strategies to minimize non-medication-related interruptions that can effectively ensure
safety during nurses’ high-risk drug administration (Rafferty & Franklin, 2017).
Despite the contraindications linked to drug round tabards, hospitals can still implement
them on their wards because of the positive results caused by their implementation, such as
creating awareness on the importance of not interrupting nurses providing medication and
dedication (Verweij et al., 2014).
Nurses must be trained on evidence-based practice skills key to minimizing non-
medication-related distractions caused by their colleagues, such as nursing students or by senior
healthcare professionals (Mortaro et al., 2019).
Also, nurses must maintain a high level of hygiene the tabards to avoid making MAEs.
This practice is mandatory to avoid high risks of infection and associated MAEs (Verweij et al.,
2014).
Conclusion

DRUG ROUND TABARDS 4
This study establishes that tabards can be useful in minimizing distractions and associated
MAEs during ward rounds. Also, other considerations must be taken into account while using the
tabards such their hygiene to minimize overall MAEs that can endanger a patient. Lastly,
additional research on ways to reduce distractions and MAEs can improve evidence-based
practice among caregivers.

DRUG ROUND TABARDS 5
References
Mortaro, A., Pascu, D., Pancheri, S., Mazzi, M., Tardivo, S., Bellamoli, C., Ferrarese, F.,
Poli, A., Romano, G., & Moretti, F. (2019). Reducing interruptions during drug
medication preparation and administration: An improvement project. International
Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, 00-00. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa-12-
2017-0238
Rafferty, A. M., & Franklin, B. D. (2017). Interruptions in medication administration: Are
we asking the right questions? BMJ Quality & Safety, 26(9), 701-703.
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjqs-2017-006737
Schutijser, B. C., Klopotowska, J. E., Jongerden, I. P., Spreeuwenberg, P. M., De
Bruijne, M. C., & Wagner, C. (2018). Interruptions during intravenous medication
administration: A multicentre observational study. Journal of Advanced Nursing,
75(3), 555-562. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.13880
Verweij, L., Smeulers, M., Maaskant, J. M., & Vermeulen, H. (2014). Quiet please! Drug
round tabards: Are they effective and accepted? A mixed-method study. Journal of
Nursing Scholarship, 46(5), 340-348. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnu.12092.