Nursing perception of the impact of medication carts on patient safety and ergonomics in a teaching health care center.
OBJECTIVE
In our Quebec (Canada) University Hospital Center, 68 medication carts have been implemented as part of a nationally funded project on drug distribution technologies. There are limited data published about the impact of medication carts in point-of-care units. Our main objective was to assess nursing staff's perception and satisfaction of medication carts on patient safety and ergonomics.


METHODS
Quantitative and qualitative cross-sectional study. Data were gathered from a printed questionnaire administered to nurses and an organized focus group composed of nurses and pharmacists.


RESULTS
A total of 195 nurses completed the questionnaire. Eighty percent of the nurses agreed that medication carts made health care staff's work easier and 64% agreed that it helped to reduce medication incidents/accidents. Only 27% and 43% agreed that carts' location reduces the risk of patients' interruptions and colleagues' interruptions, respectively. A total of 17 suggestions were extracted from the focus group (n = 7 nurses; n = 3 pharmacist) and will be implemented in the next year.


CONCLUSIONS
This descriptive study confirms the positive perception and satisfaction of nurses exposed to medication carts. However, interruptions are a major concern and source of dissatisfaction. The focus group has revealed many issues which will be improved.
Département de Pharmacie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Élise
É
Rochais
Suzanne
S
Atkinson
Jean-François
JF
Bussières
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004865:Equipment and Supplies, Hospital / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*; D006804:Ergonomics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards*; D017144:Focus Groups; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*; D061214:Patient Safety / Q000592:standards*