A root cause analysis project in a medication safety course.
OBJECTIVE
To develop, implement, and evaluate team-based root cause analysis projects as part of a required medication safety course for second-year pharmacy students.


METHODS
Lectures, in-class activities, and out-of-class reading assignments were used to develop students' medication safety skills and introduce them to the culture of medication safety. Students applied these skills within teams by evaluating cases of medication errors using root cause analyses. Teams also developed error prevention strategies and formally presented their findings.


RESULTS
Student performance was assessed using a medication errors evaluation rubric. Of the 211 students who completed the course, the majority performed well on root cause analysis assignments and rated them favorably on course evaluations.


CONCLUSIONS
Medication error evaluation and prevention was successfully introduced in a medication safety course using team-based root cause analysis projects.
Jefferson School of Pharmacy, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107-5233, USA. jason.schafer@jefferson.edu
Jason J
JJ
Schafer
D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage; D060891:Root Cause Analysis; D013339:Students, Pharmacy
D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations