Journal Article

Enhancing Detection and Reporting of Medication Errors Through Online Learning. Can an Online Course Bring About Any Actual Change?

Mosbah, Hager Ben, Ekelo, Magnus, Alj, Loubna, Benabdallah, Rita

2024

Overview

Aim/Objective: To assess the impact of the online instructor-led course on the reporting of medication errors and assessments of reports in the participating countries. Methods: A five-week online course was planned, organised, and offered to members of the WHO Programme for International Drug Monitoring on UMC's learning management platform3 . Content covered topics from identification and reporting medication errors, to analytical tools for root cause analysis and risk minimisation actions. This course was designed with practicality in mind, incorporating assignments based on real-world cases and live discussions focused on application. Before and after the course, participants conducted self-assessments of their understanding of seven principal topics covered in the course. Upon completion of the course, all participants were asked through a questionnaire what impact they thought the course had on their work with medication errors in daily practice. Results: In total, 24 participants representing 14 countries completed the five-week course, and all participants completed the subsequent questionnaire. Among participants, 91% affirmed their intention to integrate course-derived knowledge into modifications of routines and practices within their respective centres. Most respondents (71%) answered that they would update SOPs and routines for medication error reports. The self-assessment results indicate improvements in the skills of participants in handling medication error reports. Qualitative feedback revealed an intention to engage with healthcare professionals to increase awareness, as well as improve coding practices for medication error reports. Several centres planned to revise their protocols and routines, suggesting an initial positive impact of the course on operational practices. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that a practically oriented online course can impact the way pharmacovigilance centres work with medication errors. Moreover, an online course could be an effective tool in enhancing the skills of pharmacovigilance professionals and in encouraging pharmacovigilance centres to reassess and modify their approaches to medication error report management.

• Publisher: Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Distance learning / Drugs / Errors / Internet / Medical errors / Pharmacovigilance / Questionnaires / Root cause analysis / Routines / Self assessment / Skills