The use and impact of a hospital medication safety dashboard
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The implementation, use and impact of a medication safety dashboard in hospital: A mixed methods process evaluation
IRAS ID
291691
Contact name
Darren M Ashcroft
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 4 months, days
Research summary
A new interactive medication safety dashboard based upon the SMASH intervention and incorporating an enhanced suite of prescribing safety indicators is to be introduced into a hospital setting at Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust. This study will aim to understand how this dashboard is implemented and used by a variety of different health professionals in this hospital setting, as well as its effectiveness in reducing risk of potentially hazardous prescribing events.
We will conduct up to 40 interviews with health professionals (doctors, nurses, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians) using the medication safety dashboard as part of their work. These interviews will elicit the views of health professionals as to the ease of use of the system and how it fits into and either enhances or detracts from their work. This will help us to understand the factors involved in the implementation of the system.
We will conduct investigation of whether the implementation of the dashboard has led to changes in the incidence of potentially hazardous prescribing events, how people use the dashboard, the frequency of use and the types of actions undertaken. The results from these analyses will be combined with the interview data to gain a broad understand of the ways the dashboard is used.
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/NW/0304
Date of REC Opinion
29 Oct 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion