The effectiveness of drug round tabards in reducing incidence of medication errors.
BACKGROUND
A number of inpatients experience medication errors, which carry potential risks for patients and have cost implications for the NHS. These errors are often a result of interruptions during drug rounds.


OBJECTIVE
This audit study explored whether introducing drug round tabards reduced the number of interruptions during drug rounds and improved patient care and safety.


METHODS
Red tabards, embroidered front and backwith "Drug round in progress please do not disturb", were introduced in three wards. A tick box questionnaire was used to collect information on interruptions during each drug round. NHS Grampian's Datix incident reporting system was reviewed for medication errors during the audit period and tabards were randomly swabbed to see if any cultures hadgrown.


CONCLUSIONS
The average number of interruptions was reduced significantly from six to five after drug round tabards were introduced and there was a slight reduction in the number of incidents reported over the five week audit period compared with the previous year.


CONCLUSIONS
Further studies need to be conducted nationwide to provide a better understanding of the effectiveness of drug round tabards. Issues ofcost, laundering and infection control need to be further examined.
Scott
Jude
J
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, NHS Grampian.
Williams
David
D
Ingram
Jennifer
J
Mackenzie
Fiona
F
D003020:Clothing; D006801:Humans; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital; D009731:Nursing Audit; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012308:Risk Management / Q000379:methods; D012606:Scotland; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis