Medication errors in home care: a qualitative focus group study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To explore registered nurses' experiences of medication errors and patient safety in home care.

BACKGROUND: The focus of care for older patients has shifted from institutional care towards a model of home care. Medication errors are common in this situation and can result in patient morbidity and mortality.

DESIGN: An exploratory qualitative design with focus group interviews was used.

METHODS: Four focus group interviews were conducted with 20 registered nurses in home care. The data were analysed using content analysis.

RESULTS: Five categories were identified as follows: lack of information, lack of competence, reporting medication errors, trade name products vs. generic name products, and improving routines.

CONCLUSION: Medication errors occur frequently in home care and can threaten the safety of patients. Insufficient exchange of information and poor communication between the specialist and home-care health services, and between general practitioners and healthcare workers can lead to medication errors. A lack of competence in healthcare workers can also lead to medication errors. To prevent these, it is important that there should be up-to-date information and communication between healthcare workers during the transfer of patients from specialist to home care. Ensuring competence among healthcare workers with regard to medication is also important. In addition, there should be openness and accurate reporting of medication errors, as well as in setting routines for the preparation, alteration and administration of medicines.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: To prevent medication errors in home care, up-to-date information and communication between healthcare workers is important when patients are transferred from specialist to home care. It is also important to ensure adequate competence with regard to medication, and that there should be openness when medication errors occur, as well as in setting routines for the preparation, alteration and administration of medications.