Optimising Beyond-Use Date Management and Workload to Reduce Intravenous Medication Errors: A Targeted Intervention Study.

Abstract

Aim(s): To evaluate the effectiveness of targeted interventions in optimising Beyond-Use Date (BUD) management and workload distribution to reduce intravenous (IV) medication errors and improve patient safety in a resource-limited hospital setting.

Design: This study employed a pre- and post-intervention observational design.

Methods: A four-month intervention was conducted at a large tertiary hospital in China, following a baseline assessment of IV medication practices. The intervention included the establishment of BUD guidelines, redistribution of staff workloads and targeted training sessions. IV preparation and administration errors were observed in Pharmacy Intravenous Admixture Services (PIVAS) centers and medical wards, and changes in error rates were recorded.

Results: In the PIVAS center, IV preparation errors decreased from 0.19% to 0.12%. Medical wards showed a decrease in administration errors from 38.3% to 30.0%, with improvements noted in areas such as adherence to BUD and storage protocols. The intervention demonstrated significant improvements in medication safety by enhancing BUD compliance and balancing workloads.

Conclusion: The implementation of structured BUD guidelines, workload optimisation, and training significantly reduced IV medication errors, highlighting the effectiveness of management-driven interventions in improving safety practices within hospital settings.

Implications for the profession and/or patient care: This study underscores the importance of BUD management and balanced workloads in reducing medication errors, contributing to safer and more efficient IV medication administration.

Impact: This study addresses the challenge of medication errors in resource-constrained healthcare environments, providing evidence that structured management interventions can enhance patient safety. The findings are relevant to healthcare providers and managers in similar settings.

Reporting method: This study follows the TIDieR and STROBE guidelines for structured reporting.

Patient or public contribution: No patient or public contribution.