Medication Errors in Health and Social Care: A Research Project

Desklib provides past papers and solved assignments for students. This research project explores medication errors in healthcare.

Research Project
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
LO1..................................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Formulate and record possible research project outline specifications.................................1
1.2 Identify the factors that contribute to the process of research project selection....................2
1.3 Undertake a critical review of key references.......................................................................3
1.4 Produce a research project specification................................................................................4
1.5 Provide an appropriate plan and procedures for the agreed research specification...............5
LO2..................................................................................................................................................6
2.1 Match resources efficiently to the research question or hypothesis......................................6
2.2. Undertake the proposed research investigation in accordance with the agreed specification
and procedures.............................................................................................................................7
2.3. Record and collate relevant data where appropriate.............................................................8
LO3................................................................................................................................................10
3.1. Use appropriate ‘research evaluation techniques...............................................................10
3.2. Interpret and analyze the results in terms of the original research specification................10
3.3. Make recommendations and justify areas for further consideration..................................15
4.1 Use an agreed format and appropriate media to present the outcomes of the research to an
audience.....................................................................................................................................16
References......................................................................................................................................17
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LO1
1.1 Formulate and record possible research project outline specifications
Topic: Importance of management and administration on medication in health and social care
organizations
Introduction: The current project will highlight the administration of medication in various
health and social care organizations. It will focus on describing the problem to some extent as
well as will support identifying various common causes of the risk that are caused because of
error while managing medication. It has been determined that the role of care workers and the
type of care offered to the service users with the changing trend is changing, and therefore health
care professionals such as doctors, nurses, etc. are more liable for paying attention to managing
medicines so that negative influence of medication errors on health of service users can be
minimised (Vanwesemael et.al.2017). Therefore the entire study will revolve around identifying
and managing errors while administering medication in health and social care organizations.
Research Background: Medication related errors are found to be one of the primary cause of
increasing deaths and health issues among patients in health and social care organizations. The
wrong dosage of medicines, inappropriate communication between staff of health and social care
organizations, medication at the wrong time, etc. are some of the factors that cause errors and
increase the risk of health issues among patients in health and social care organizations.
Therefore there is a greater need for health care professionals to focus on medication while
prescribing, dispensing, administrating, and monitoring of medicines.
Aims and Objectives
Aim of the project is to identify the errors that occur while providing and administering the
medication in context to service users in health and social care organizations as well as to
determine the strategies for improving administration safety (van der Sluijs et.al.2019).
Objectives of the project are as follows:
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 To identify the errors made by staff of health and social care organizations while
managing medication
 To identify the influence of medication errors on health of service users
 To identify the influence of working condition on medication errors
 To determine the strategies for improving medication administration safety
Research Questions
 What you understand by best practices of medication?
 What is the role of health care professionals and staff while managing medication?
 What are the measures that are to be taken for improving the medication management and
administration?
 What impact does working conditions have on medication errors?
Research Rationale
Management and administration of medication is considered as one of the priority areas within
health and social care organizations as it puts positive or negative influence on health of service
users (McLeod et.al.2015). There is greater need of improving the systems and processes for
higher satisfaction of service users. Therefore the rationale for carrying out the study is to ensure
the appropriate medication management aligned with best practices. The study will support
identifying the areas of improvement so that negative influences of medication on service users
can be minimised. Changes are to be implemented so that strategic goal and objectives of the
organization can be attained.
1.2 Identify the factors that contribute to the process of research project selection
Some factors contribute to the selection process of a research project. Project selection is the
process that supports evaluating the idea of the current project. Research process revolves around
the research problem, and therefore the method of research process selection includes
exploration of the research problem, identifying sources of the research problem and many more.
The current topic is related to medication errors while undertaking management and
administration process.
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Medication management in health and social care organizations is considered as complex and
service users in such settings are at potentially higher risk because of such type of medication.
Errors result into increasing diseases and death rate of patient’s especially older people.
Therefore increasing morbidity and mortality are considered as major factors that contribute
towards the process of research project selection and now is required for health and social care
organizations to prevent various types of medication errors.
1.3 Undertake a critical review of key references
Medication Errors and its influence on service users
According to Nanji et.al (2016), Medication error can be defined as preventable effect in an
adverse manner in terms of care provided to the patients. It might or might not be harmful to the
patients. Such errors are majorly related to the health care products, systems and procedures,
professional practices, as well as process such as prescribing, product labelling, dispensing,
administration, monitoring, time duration, amount of dosage, etc. There exist numbers of factors
that are related to medication errors in health and social care organizations such as existence of
medication with similar packaging, medications that are not prescribed in common, allergies
related to medications, as well as testing required before providing appropriate medication.
As per Christensen and Lundh, (2016), Medication errors are one of the major cause of
increasing morbidity and mortality especially among older age people. Common type of errors
such as wrong dosage, wrong drug, as well as inappropriate communication and administration
result into increasing death of older people in health and social care organizations. Increasing
number of diseases internally and externally among patients is found to be increased because of
various types of medication errors as observed in health and social care organizations.
Influence of working condition on medication errors
Working conditions within the health and social care organizations plays important role in
minimising or increasing the medication errors. According to Keers et.al.(2015), There are
various factors within the working conditions such as increasing level of noise, excessive
workload, system interventions, etc are contribute towards increasing medication errors within
care home. Less number of staff for serving larger number of patients causes issues such as
workload which result into mental pressure and cause medication errors as an individual staff is
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likely to look over more number of patients and there is lack of attention towards patients. In
addition to this, workload of the staff is because of more number of inexperienced staff,
insufficient staffing, emergency situation, patient transfers, etc.
Lack of correct polices, protocols and procedures also influence the medication safety. For an
example, inappropriate supervision of nursing staff because of unclear and undefined roles and
responsibilities result into increasing medication errors. Policies related to double checking and
compliance of medication process with legislations are crucial in minimising rate of medication
errors.
Strategies for improving medication administration safety
There is a greater need for providing education and training to health care professionals, as well
as to implement the changes in the existing system for improving the overall medication safety.
Health care organisations must focus on educating nurses and other staff members related to
improved administration practices, as well as practices related to improving drug safety. Training
must be provided related to the labelling of medicines, a dosage of drugs, etc. In addition to this,
there is a greater need for changing systems in term of error reporting, formulation of worksheets
for calculating medication, and likewise are effective in minimising the influence of medication
errors. According to Singh and Sittig, (2016), Implementation of technology for eliminating the
errors related to confusion for labelling of medicines, etc. are effective in improving medication
administration safety.
1.4 Produce a research project specification
Medication Safety within health and social care organizations is one of the major focuses of the
current research and contributes to producing project specification. The current project is related
to the management and administration of medication errors in health and social care
organizations. The questionnaire is considered as beneficial in identifying the errors related to
medication errors as well as to determine the influence of various working conditions on
increasing and decreasing of such errors.
Sampling technique: This technique is beneficial in identifying sample size chosen randomly
from the entire population (Etikan et.al.2016). Sample size contributes towards generating
opinions related to medication errors. It is essential for the researcher to select a moderate sample
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size so that responses of respondents can be utilised effectively for drawing a conclusion. The
current study will rely on random sampling technique for gaining appropriate outcomes.
Research Type: Research methods such as Quantitative and Qualitative are useful in collecting
accurate information related to the topic. The current research is based on theoretical as well as
logical concepts which will be the part of both the research methods. Quantitative type supports
collecting numerical information as well as Qualitative kind of research method collects
theoretical information from online and offline reliable resources such as journals, web articles,
etc.
Data Collection Techniques: Data collection techniques such as primary and secondary data
collection techniques are proved to be effective in attaining objective of the research. Primary
data is collected with the help of surveys and interviews. Secondary data on the other hand is
collected with the help of already existing data which is based on information related to
appropriate medication and its management. Primary data collection technique is more reliable
as compared to information collected from data sources.
Data Analysis Method: Data collected from various collection techniques is analysed for
drawing appropriate outcome (Chambers, 2017). Content analysis method is used for analyzing
qualitative data as well as Narrative analysis for analysing the information collected from
interviews, observation and surveys.
Ethical Consideration: The researcher is responsible for identifying the interest of respondents
before the distribution of the questionnaire. Research ethics must be considered while collecting
data regarding asking personal questions and preventing personal information. In addition to this,
data must be collected without the influence of any kind of biasness.
1.5 Provide an appropriate plan and procedures for the agreed research specification
Activities/Schedule Week 2 Week 4 Week 6 Week 8 Week 10
Research Planning
Topic Introduction
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Literature Review
Research
methodology
Data Analysis and
findings
Conclusion and
recommendations
Project Completion
LO2
2.1 Match resources efficiently to the research question or hypothesis
Research Hypothesis: This is considered as specific statement in terms of prediction which is
effective in collecting information which is essential for conducting research. Hypothesis of the
current research is to find the appropriate answers to the question. In this context questionnaire
would be helpful in collecting answers to the questions related to medication errors and their
appropriate administration (Rubin, 2016).
Research Design: The current research will rely on descriptive research design that support
drawing appropriate conclusion and will meet research objectives. The design method is selected
as it is effective in identifying issues related to medication and its influence on service users. It
will also highlight the influence of working conditions as well as appropriate strategies for
minimising the influence of such errors within health and social care organizations.
Required Resources: Time and money are two crucial resources that support conducting
research. In this context Gantt chart is created for appropriate scheduling of various activities.
Microsoft Excel is used for reliable analysis which is supported by graphs and tables which is
effective in saving time and financial resources. Questionnaire is used for conducting primary
research that collects data related to medication errors.
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Data Collection methods: Primary data is collected by distributing questionnaire to number of
respondents. Responses are recorded for drawing conclusions.
2.2. Undertake the proposed research investigation in accordance with the agreed specification
and procedures
Research is appropriate in adding value to the overall analysis as well as project outcomes.
Collecting information related to medication management and administration will support the
health and social care organizations to develop strategies that are effective in minimising the
medication errors. Research design, data collection methods, research methods, as well as usage
of resources in an appropriate manner contribute towards drawing conclusion related to the topic
(Lewis, 2015). The research is also effective in collecting reliable information from observation
and experience of selected respondents.
The effectiveness of data analysis: The information is analysed by using graphs and charts for
generating appropriate outcomes. Graphs are effective in representing the responses of
respondents in percentage which is easier to identify and draw conclusions. As per the current
research, outcomes of the questions support identifying various types of medication errors as
well as influence of working conditions that are responsible for increasing medication errors
within the health and social care organizations.
Accuracy and reliability of the data: Respondents are selected in the random manner from the
entire population and their responses are found to be accurate and reliable as there are no
evidences of biasness. Respondents provides responses as per their past experience and
observations. Selected respondents are senior authorities and managers of various health and
social care organizations who will provide appropriate information related to medication errors,
its impact and the reasons for such errors in their organization.
Efficiency of sampling technique: responses are collected from respondents who are selected
randomly and therefore their responses are recorded as per their experiences within the
organizations (Kratochwill, 2015). Senior manager and authorities associated with health and
social care organizations will support sharing their knowledge and information related to
medication errors and its influence on service users. Such information will support making
strategies for improving management and administration related to medication.
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2.3. Record and collate relevant data where appropriate
Researcher has selected 50 respondents who are senior manager and authorities associated with
health and social care organizations who will contribute providing appropriate information
related to medication errors. Responses are recorded in form of charts and graphs. Below are the
questions relevant to the selected topic as per the research objectives:
1. What are the types of medication errors that have been commonly reported in your
organization?
 Wrong Drug
 Extra dose
 Inadequate Monitoring
 Others
2. What are the major error prone process observed by you while managing and
administering medication?
 Prescribing
 Dispensing and delivering
 Administration
 Monitoring
3. What is the influence of wrong medication errors on service users?
 Increase Morbidity
 Increase Mortality
 No impact
4. Does working conditions are responsible for increasing medication errors by your staff?
 Yes
 No
5. What are the factors within the working condition that are somewhat responsible for
increasing the medication errors?
 Less number of staff
 Increasing workload
 Lack of appropriate protocols and policies
 Inappropriate communication among staff
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6. What measures has been taken by your health care organizations to minimise the rate of
medication errors?
 Training and education of staff members
 Development of appropriate policies
 Increasing usage of technology
 Others
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LO3
3.1. Use appropriate ‘research evaluation techniques
Summative and formative are mainly two types of research evaluation techniques that support
evaluating the collected data or information. Formative research or explanatory research is
effective in designing the project from the starting point of the project. On the other hand
Summative research is also known as conclusion that highlights the end portion of the project. It
also contributes towards identifying the success of the entire project. Both the techniques are
effective in attaining research objectives but still summative research evaluation technique is
comparatively more effective in drawing conclusion for the current research.
The technique is beneficial in drawing conclusion related to identifying the influence of various
types of medication errors within health and social care organizations. This will also support
identifying appropriate strategies that are best suited for health care settings to minimise the
medication errors and its influence on service users. Summative research is found to be
appropriate in terms of its accuracy and reliability (Scanlon et.al.2016).
3.2. Interpret and analyze the results in terms of the original research specification
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