title: Effectiveness of a computer based medication calculation education and testing programme for nurses.
abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of an on-line, medication calculation education and testing programme. The outcome measures were medication calculation proficiency and self efficacy. This quasi-experimental study involved the administration of questionnaires before and after nurses completed annual medication calculation testing. The study was conducted in two hospitals in south-east Queensland, Australia, which provide a variety of clinical services including obstetrics, paediatrics, ambulatory, mental health, acute and critical care and community services. Participants were registered nurses (RNs) and enrolled nurses with a medication endorsement (EN(Med)) working as clinicians (n=107). Data pertaining to success rate, number of test attempts, self-efficacy, medication calculation error rates and nurses' satisfaction with the programme were collected. Medication calculation scores at first test attempt showed improvement following one year of access to the programme. Two of the self-efficacy subscales improved over time and nurses reported satisfaction with the online programme. Results of this study may facilitate the continuation and expansion of medication calculation and administration education to improve nursing knowledge, inform practise and directly improve patient safety.
authors.affiliation: Gold Coast Health Service District, QLD, Nursing Education and Research Unit, Gold Coast Hospital, 108 Nerang Street, Southport, QLD 4215, Australia. Karen_Sherriff@health.qld.gov.au
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sherriff
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Burston
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wallis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D020000:Decision Support Systems, Clinical / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004360:Drug Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009729:Nursing / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011793:Queensland; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult