European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

QUALITY IMPROVEMENT IN MEDICATION SAFETY: A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH

Mohammad Abdullah Almanna*, Bander Ahmad Zamzami, Nouf Hamed Alanazi, Reem Sultan Alshaibani, Salwa Rashed Alowaidan, Albandary Falah Alharbi, Zainab Ali Alqarni and Maryam Helal Alanazi

ABSTRACT

Background: Transitional care is crucial in healthcare due to reduced hospital stays and post-discharge care needs. It ensures smooth transitions between healthcare settings, but can be hindered by insufficient training, communication, medication availability, and low health literacy. Various healthcare workers contribute to achieving drug safety. Aim of Work: The objective is to integrate information and examine the nurse‟s involvement in medication management throughout the transfer of care. Methods: A comprehensive systematic review was done. A systematic search was conducted in electronic databases, including PubMed (Including Medline), Web of Knowledge, Scopus, and Cinahl, covering the period from January 2010 to 2016. Included in this study were original qualitative and quantitative research papers published in English that specifically examined the nurse‟s involvement in managing medications during transitional care. This care included the mobility of patients between short-term, long-term, and community health- care settings. Results: Through the search method, 10 papers were retrieved. These studies were published in English between the years 2014 and 2016. Their primary emphasis was on the nurse‟s involvement in managing patients‟ medications throughout transitional care in different healthcare settings. The review results were presented narratively using three categories devised by the authors, due to differences in the objectives and approaches of the chosen research. Under the area of „medication reconciliation process‟, the nurse engaged in activities such as gathering medication history, conducting medication review, identifying medication discrepancies, collaborating on medication reconciliation, and making necessary adjustments. The second category, referred to as „partnership with other healthcare professionals‟, emphasizes the nurses‟ involvement in addressing medication-related issues, facilitating multidisciplinary communication and consultation, coordinating discharge plans, and overseeing patient monitoring. Under the area of „supply of support to healthcare recipients‟, the nurse‟s duties included engaging in interpersonal contact with patients, providing education on medications, streamlining medication regimes, and managing symptoms during transitional care. Conclusion: Nurses have a vital role in ensuring the safe handling and administration of medications throughout the process of transitioning patients between different levels of care. Thus, it is essential to provide them authority and increase their participation in efforts related to the administration of medications within the healthcare system. To ensure patient safety and prevent medication mistakes during transitional care, it is crucial for medications management to include teamwork across many disciplines and excellent communication among health- care personnel.

Keywords: Multidisciplinary Teamwork – Continuity of Care – Nurse – Medications Management – Patient Safety – Transitional Care – Review.