Promotions
Clarity improves safety
March 3, 2010
Reading the medication labels was difficult.
Fixing them was easy.
Following a recent provincial study, the medication labels used by the province’s cancer centres are now more legible–and not just for sake of aesthetics.
About 45 to 50 per cent of all medication errors reported are related to product labelling, packaging and nomenclature, reports the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP Canada), which is committed to improving medication safety in health-care settings.
“(Our study) looks at things like what will stand out, what’s the more important information people need to know and then makes sure (the information) is prominent,” says Roxanne Dobish, study co-lead and pharmacy manager at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton.
During the study, 26 nursing and pharmacy staff analyzed existing labels and identified confusing or problematic elements. They also suggested changes to the labels they felt would better help health-care professionals locate and use information.
This led to several changes, such as:
- Bolding and enlarging the size of key information.
- Separating the dose from other numerical information.
- Standardizing label placement.
- Removing unnecessary words to create more white space.
The redesigned labels are being phased in at the Cross Cancer Institute and the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary. They also will be used at the Lethbridge Cancer Centre when it opens later this year.
The study also recommended replacing dot matrix printers with higher-quality thermal printers at the cancer centres.
“Safety literature was coming out with information about labelling standards and font size. We knew our dot matrix printers weren’t able to fulfill those requirements,” Dobish says.
The new labels have not been formally evaluated, but they’re being well received by staff.
Bonnie Michalowski, a Cross Cancer Institute nurse who participated in the study, believes the redesign has enhanced patient safety.
“The labels are clearer, so nurses can properly administer chemotherapy to patients,” she says.
Jeff Caird, a psychology professor in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Calgary, was the study’s other lead. He was assisted by student Shaunna Milloy.
This project is one example of how AHS pharmacy staff or personnel provide value to health care professionals and patients. March 1-7 is Pharmacy Awareness Week.
