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Research article
Nadja Nestler
Institute of Nursing Science and Practice
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7342-0394
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background: Cooperation and communication are central factors for a safe medication process, especially residents of nursing homes, due to their multimorbidity, and hence, their need of numerous drugs. An interprofessional team is needed to handle potential problems of the medication process, but as several studies confirm, communication and cooperation within the medication process allow for improvement. This study aims to understand functioning and malfunctioning aspects of communication and cooperation within the medication process, to use these results to optimize the communication and coordination between the involved professional groups, and to examine changes after intervention.
Methods: This qualitative study is part of an interventional study. Involved professional groups of the medication process were interviewed before and after an intervention to evaluate experiences regarding communication, cooperation, as well as with the intervention overall. Six group discussions and two expert interviews with general practitioners, nurses of nursing homes and pharmacists were recorded and transcribed. Data analysis was done via qualitative content analysis to examine communication and cooperation of the professional groups. A derived coding tree was developed, output from codes was used to sort data into themes, and quotations were selected that exemplified themes for inclusion in this manuscript.
A combined intervention was implemented that included an education program concerning medication safety and an online communication tool.
Results: Responsibility and availability are two central aspects for efficient cooperation and communication. Problems are mostly system-related due to the necessity to use traditional ways of communication. The usage of a new online communication platform enables a regular medication review and an independence from personal attendances of all professional groups.
Conclusion: An interprofessional education program as well as the implementation of an online communication tool overcame barriers of communication and cooperation, systematized the medication process, and allowed for independent working routines of the professional groups.
Trial registration: DRKS Data Management, ID: DRKS00007900
Keywords
Interprofessional cooperation, interprofessional communication, medication process, health information technology
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A new preprint design is coming!
We have improved readability, clarity, accessibility, and opportunities for engagement.
This preprint is under consideration at BMC Health Services Research. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research article
Nadja Nestler
Institute of Nursing Science and Practice
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7342-0394
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
Version 1
Posted 20 Jan, 2021
No community comments so far
Editor assigned
On 15 Jan, 2021
Submission checks complete
On 15 Jan, 2021
Editor invited
On 15 Jan, 2021
First submitted
On 01 Dec, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background: Cooperation and communication are central factors for a safe medication process, especially residents of nursing homes, due to their multimorbidity, and hence, their need of numerous drugs. An interprofessional team is needed to handle potential problems of the medication process, but as several studies confirm, communication and cooperation within the medication process allow for improvement. This study aims to understand functioning and malfunctioning aspects of communication and cooperation within the medication process, to use these results to optimize the communication and coordination between the involved professional groups, and to examine changes after intervention.
Methods: This qualitative study is part of an interventional study. Involved professional groups of the medication process were interviewed before and after an intervention to evaluate experiences regarding communication, cooperation, as well as with the intervention overall. Six group discussions and two expert interviews with general practitioners, nurses of nursing homes and pharmacists were recorded and transcribed. Data analysis was done via qualitative content analysis to examine communication and cooperation of the professional groups. A derived coding tree was developed, output from codes was used to sort data into themes, and quotations were selected that exemplified themes for inclusion in this manuscript.
A combined intervention was implemented that included an education program concerning medication safety and an online communication tool.
Results: Responsibility and availability are two central aspects for efficient cooperation and communication. Problems are mostly system-related due to the necessity to use traditional ways of communication. The usage of a new online communication platform enables a regular medication review and an independence from personal attendances of all professional groups.
Conclusion: An interprofessional education program as well as the implementation of an online communication tool overcame barriers of communication and cooperation, systematized the medication process, and allowed for independent working routines of the professional groups.
Trial registration: DRKS Data Management, ID: DRKS00007900
Figure 1
Figure 2
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
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