Project summary

Background

The aims of this study are to describe the prevalence, types, clinical importance and causes of errors involving infusion of intravenous medication in English hospitals, and then to make recommendations for interventions with greatest potential for reducing harm from these errors. This is a multi-hospital study conducted over three phases over three years, starting July 2014.

Outcomes

Phase 1 is now underway and involves documenting intravenous medication administration practices and associated medication errors in a point-prevalence study in five clinical areas at each of 14 hospital sites. To identify potential medication administration errors, trained staff are systematically comparing the medication, dose, and infusion rate on the intravenous pump with those prescribed. Error rates will be calculated for different types of infusion and different clinical areas, and clinical importance assessed using standard methods. 

The results of Phase 1 will be used to pinpoint study sites for Phase 2, which will involve a more detailed observational study of practices in five hospital sites.

Phase 3 will then synthesise the findings of Phases 1 and 2, including comparisons with a similar ongoing study in the USA, leading to recommendations for the English NHS.

The study is funded by the NIHR Health Services and Delivery Research Programme.

Resources

• Study website
• Entry on NIHR website