However, users responded they were uncertain as to whether the new chart made it safer to prescribe, dispense and administer medicines. Users provided additional constructive feedback and identified ways in which the new chart design could be enhanced to further improve usability and safety aspects. A collaborative approach with involvement of relevant specialists and stakeholders resulted learn more in the successful design and trial of a standard inpatient chart in five organisations. The pilot phase evaluation demonstrated some safety improvements, for example in the quality and visibility of

allergy status documentation, but also highlighted areas for further enhancement. Weight documentation which was low to begin with, decreased with the new design and this needed to be addressed through minor changes to the chart prior to implementation. Users reported an overall positive view of the new charts. 1. GMC. GMC Calls for a National Prescription Chart to Reduce Errors [press release]. 2009. See http://www.gmc-uk.org/news/5156.asp (last checked 26 April 2013). 2. Coombes ID, Stowasser DA, Reid C, Mitchell CA. Impact of a standard medication chart on prescribing errors: a before-and-after audit. Qual Saf Health Care 2009; 18: 478–485. Peter Rivers, Shoaib Haji, Hafizah Lorgat, Mohammed Mawji, Georgina Ridgway De Montfort University,

Leicester, UK The aim of the study was to observe the activities of care staff whilst administering medicines in care homes and Erastin to understand the attitudes of staff towards medicines safety in the context of social care Interruptions constituted an http://www.selleckchem.com/Proteasome.html accepted part of the task of administering medicines Potential for harm caused by medication error should be balanced against priority for social care The CHUMS report 1 highlighted considerable risk of

making medication errors when administering medicines to elderly people in care homes although found no direct evidence of ‘severe harm’ to residents. In order to gain insight into the cause of such errors, the aim of this research was to describe activities that take place during medicine rounds. An aim was also to gain an understanding of the experience and attitudes of care staff when administering medicines in a social care setting. Non-participant observation of medicine rounds was conducted at breakfast and tea-time in four social services care homes. Staff were aware of being observed but this is unlikely to have substantially influenced routine medication-round activity or unplanned interruptions. Measures of activities and distractions were noted such as: a) time taken to complete medicine round, b) selecting doses, c) talking to residents, d) dealing with interruptions, e) documentation. In-depth interviews designed to seek carers’ views of the risks associated with administering medicines were conducted with a representative sample of 12 care staff from the four homes.