Understanding the information dynamics of medication administration in residential aged care facilities (RACFs): a prerequisite for design of effective ICT systems

Amina Tariq*, Andrew Georgiou, Johanna Westbrook

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference proceeding contributionpeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)
8 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Medication information is a critical part of the information required to ensure residents' safety in the highly collaborative care context of RACFs. Studies report poor medication information as a barrier to improve medication management in RACFs. Research exploring medication work practices in aged care settings remains limited. This study aimed to identify contextual and work practice factors contributing to breakdowns in medication information exchange in RACFs in relation to the medication administration process. We employed non-participant observations and semi-structured interviews to explore information practices in three Australian RACFs. Findings identified inefficiencies due to lack of information timeliness, manual stock management, multiple data transcriptions, inadequate design of essential documents such as administration sheets and a reliance on manual auditing procedures. Technological solutions such as electronic medication administration records offer opportunities to overcome some of the identified problems. However these interventions need to be designed to align with the collaborative team based processes they intend to support.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationContext sensitive health informatics
Subtitle of host publicationhuman and sociotechnical approaches
EditorsMarie-Catherine Beuscart-Zéphir, Monique Jaspers, Craig Kuziemsky, Christian Nøhr, Jos Aarts
Place of PublicationAmsterdam
PublisherIOS Press
Pages188-194
Number of pages7
Volume194
ISBN (Electronic)9781614992936
ISBN (Print)9781614992929
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013
Externally publishedYes
EventInternational Conference on Context Sensitive Health Informatics, Human and Sociotechnical Approaches - Copenhagen, Denmark
Duration: 1 Aug 2013 → …

Publication series

NameStudies in Health Technology and Informatics
PublisherIOS PRESS
Volume194
ISSN (Print)0926-9630

Conference

ConferenceInternational Conference on Context Sensitive Health Informatics, Human and Sociotechnical Approaches
Country/TerritoryDenmark
CityCopenhagen
Period1/08/13 → …

Bibliographical note

Copyright the Author(s) 2013. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

Keywords

  • Medication administration
  • aged care
  • information exchange
  • LONG-TERM-CARE
  • PATIENT SAFETY
  • ERRORS
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • QUALITY
  • HOMES

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