A qualitative study of nurses' perceptions of a behavioural strategies e-learning program to reduce interruptions during medication administration.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate the perceptions of nurses of an e-learning educational program to encourage the use of behavioural strategies-blocking, engaging, mediating, multitasking, and preventing-to reduce the negative effects of interruptions during medication administration.

DESIGN: A qualitative design was used to evaluate the impact of this e-learning educational intervention on nurses' behaviour.

SETTINGS: Two wards (palliative care and aged care) from two different hospitals within a large local health service within Sydney Australia, were included in the study. These wards were also involved in a cluster randomised trial to test the effectiveness of the program.

PARTICIPANTS: A purposive sample participated comprising nine registered and enrolled nurses certified to conduct medication administration, who had reviewed the educational modules.

METHODS: Two focus groups were conducted and these sessions were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis identified seven themes.

RESULTS: The major themes identified included: perceptions of interruptions, accessing the program, content of the program, impact, maintaining good practice and facilitators and barriers to changing behaviour.

CONCLUSIONS: The use of embedded authentic images of patient interruptions and management strategies increased some nurses' perceived use of strategies to manage interruptions. Nurses varied in their perception as to whether they could change their behaviour with some describing change at the individual and ward team levels, while others described patient caseload and other health professionals as a barrier. The use of this innovative educational intervention is recommended for staff orientation, student nurses, medical officers and allied health staff. Further research is required in how this e-learning program can be used in combination with other effective interventions to reduce interruptions.