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A poison information centre can provide important assessment and guidance regarding medication errors in nursing homes: A prospective cohort study
Author(s) -
Vinther Siri,
Bøgevig Søren,
Eriksen Karen Reenberg,
Hansen Nete Brandt,
Petersen Tonny Studsgaard,
Dalhoff Kim Peder,
Christensen Mikkel Bring
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
basic and clinical pharmacology and toxicology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.805
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1742-7843
pISSN - 1742-7835
DOI - 10.1111/bcpt.13529
Subject(s) - medicine , danish , interquartile range , prospective cohort study , emergency medicine , nursing homes , medical emergency , medication error , cohort , telephone interview , risk assessment , cohort study , patient safety , nursing , surgery , health care , philosophy , linguistics , social science , computer security , sociology , computer science , economics , economic growth
The Danish Poison Information Centre (DPIC) regularly receives inquiries about nursing home residents who have been exposed to a medication error. The aim of this prospective cohort study was to describe and discuss the types and consequences of these errors. Data were collected from 1 March 2018 to 31 March 2019. Registered data included characteristics of caller and resident, data related to the suspected medication error, risk assessment and recommendation. Consequences and clinical outcomes were assessed by follow‐up telephone calls. Over the study period, the DPIC was consulted about 145 medication errors occurring at Danish nursing homes. The median number of substances administered by error was two (interquartile range 1‐5). Hospitalization was recommended in 21% of cases. In one‐third of the cases where consultation with the DPIC was done with the resident either on his/her way to or in hospital, hospitalization was found unnecessary, and the resident could have stayed in accustomed surroundings for observation. Follow‐up demonstrated that very few medication errors had a severe outcome. This prospective study illustrates that consulting with a poison information centre can qualify risk assessment and potentially reduce hospital admissions following medication errors in a nursing home setting.