Patients/Nurses Participation in Medication Safety: Barriers and Enhancers

Background: Encouraging patient engagement can facilitate effective medication
management. Nurse plays an essential role in medication administration, teaching, and evaluating
the effectiveness of medications in restoring or maintaining health. Aim: explore barriers and
enhancers associated with patients and nurses participation in medications safety. Design: A
descriptive exploratory study design used to achieve the aim of this study. Methods: This study
was conducted at seven intensive care units affiliated to Nasser Institute Hospital. Subjects: A
purposeful sample of 100 adults patients and 75 nurses working in intensive care units were
included in the study. Tools: 1) Patient‟s medications safety knowledge questionnaire. 2) Self
administered nurses‟ knowledge assessment questionnaire. 3) Nurse's practices observational
checklist. Results: Approximately three quarters of the studied patients had unsatisfactory level
of total knowledge regarding safe handling of the medications. More than two thirds of the studied
patients demonstrated that there are barriers can prevent them from practicing their role in taking
medication safely. Three quarters of the studied patients demonstrated that there are enhancers can
help them practicing their role in the safe handling of medication. Total unsatisfactory level of nurses‟
knowledge regarding safe administration of the medications and patient‟s participation was one third.
Less than two thirds of the studied nurses had barriers that prevent them from practicing their role in
the safe administration of the medications. Majority of the studied nurses about more four fifth had
enhancers that help them to practice their role in the safe administration of the medications. Total
satisfactory level of nurses‟ practice regarding giving medications was half of studied sample.
Conclusion: The result of this study concluded that there were barriers affect patient‟s participation in
medication safety such as (physical/health, psychological, social, economic, and cultural,
nurse/physician/clinical pharmacist, medication). There were enhancers affect patient‟s participation
related to (nurses/physicians, social, medication). Barriers that affect nurse‟s participation were
related to (nurses, physician, medication, work environment, and patients). Enhancers that affect
nurse‟s participation related to (physicians/ pharmacist, work environment). Recommendation:
This study recommends conducting periodical educational program for patients and nurses to
improve their knowledge about participation in medication safety taking into consideration
barriers and enhancers associated with medication safety