ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Labelling is a strategy that contributes to the correct and faster identification of drugs, minimizing misidentification. There is a gap in knowledge on optimal labelling standards for intravenous (IV) devices applied to the care of critically ill patients. AIM: The goal of this article was to map existing knowledge on the labelling of IV drug delivery devices in critically ill patients for the prevention of medication errors. STUDY DESIGN: This was a scoping review conducted according to the JBI methodology in the LILACS, MEDLINE, CINAHL, IBECS, Scopus, Embase and Web of Science databases, and on the websites of specialized institutions. Searches were conducted up to December 2022 for scientific articles and grey literature that addressed the labelling of IV devices in intensive care units, emergency departments, and anaesthesia units. The data were collected using a structured form and were later classified, summarized, and aggregated to map the knowledge related to the review question. RESULTS: Twenty-one documents were included, which demonstrated variability in label use with IV drug delivery devices. The following features of structure and design stood out: printed format, colour coding, letter size differentiation, and the use of sturdy material. In terms of information, the name of the drug, dose, date and time of preparation, identification of the patient, and who prepared it were found. CONCLUSIONS: The identified patterns contributed to the reduction of drug misidentification and the development of timelier drug labelling and administration. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The evidence supports the development of standardized labels for the prevention of medication errors.
Subject(s)
Critical Illness , Intensive Care Units , HumansABSTRACT
Resumen Introducción: Conocer los aspectos sociodemográficos de la alfabetización en salud y las necesidades relacionadas con el etiquetado de medicamentos permite crear las bases para canalizar las acciones de los profesionales para la mejora de la atención sanitaria que se brinda a poblaciones vulnerables. Metodología: A partir de ello, se realizó una investigación de tipo cuantitativa, observacional, con un alcance exploratorio que abordó la población indígena residente en el sector de Alto Telire, localizado en la provincia de Limón, Costa Rica. Esta se caracteriza por su aislamiento y baja escolaridad. En este artículo se presenta la caracterización de aspectos sociodemográficos y de alfabetización en salud, así como la identificación de necesidades relacionadas con el etiquetado de medicamentos para un grupo de pacientes de la etnia cabécar, atendidos en el mes de mayo del 2018 por personeros de la Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social (CCSS). Los resultados se obtuvieron mediante la realización de entrevistas directas a pacientes. Resultados: Los resultados obtenidos del estudio destacan que el 57 % de la población participante es del sexo femenino, con edades entre los 18 y 45 años. Además, el nulo acceso a la educación que tuvo la población hasta el año 2009 explica por qué el 70,42 % de las personas participantes no cuentan con ningún tipo de escolaridad, lo cual está relacionado con que el 100 % presentaran un bajo nivel de alfabetización en salud. Por otro lado, las principales formas de las personas participantes de reconocer sus medicamentos es por el nombre, uso y características físicas, siendo el uso que se le da al medicamento la principal manera de reconocerle. Conclusiones: La población incluida en este estudio cuenta con baja escolaridad y un nivel inadecuado de alfabetización para la salud. Las necesidades con respecto al etiquetado de medicamentos están relacionadas principalmente con el motivo de uso y la persona que lo debe utilizar. Adicionalmente, el etiquetado de los medicamentos es la única fuente de información que tiene esta población al alcance para utilizar racionalmente los medicamentos.
Abstract Introduction: The understanding of sociodemographic characteristics, health literacy, and drug labeling needs allows to create the bases for professionals to target actions for the improvement of healthcare among vulnerable populations. Methodology: From this, a quantitative, observational research was carried out, with an exploratory scope; that addressed the indigenous population residing in the Alto Telire sector, located in the province of Limón, Costa Rica, which is characterized by its isolation and low schooling. This article presents the characterization of sociodemographic aspects, health literacy, as well as the identification of needs related to the labeling of medicines for a group of patients of the Cabécar ethnic group, attended in May 2018 by representatives of the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS). The results were obtained through direct interviews with patients. Results: The results obtained from the study highlight that 57% of the participating population is female, with ages between 18 and 45 years. Furthermore, the lack of access to education that the population had until 2009 explains why 70 42% of the participants do not have any type of education, which is related to the fact that a 100% have low health literacy level. On the other hand, participants recognize their medications principally by the name, use and physical characteristics, being the use given to the medication the main way to recognize it. Conclusions:The population included in this study has low education and an inadequate level of health literacy. Drug labeling needs are primarily related to indications and the person intended to use it. Furthermore, drug labels are the only source of information available to this population in order to rationally use their treatments.
Subject(s)
Humans , Pharmaceutical Preparations , Health Literacy , Indigenous Peoples , Pharmacy , Costa RicaABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: One of the factors to influence abandoning breastfeeding is mothers' use of medications. The www.e-lactancia.org website is a reliable source in Spanish and English for online free-access information about the compatibility of medications with breastfeeding. The aim of this study was to analyse the search profiles, and groups and products, searched the most on this website. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective and descriptive study of the e-lactancia.org website during 2014-2018. Google Analytics was used for data collection. The following variables were analysed: number of users and queries; professional profile; country; language; users' and groups' access modes/devices; most searched products. RESULTS: We found 16,821.559 users and 63,783.866 pages. Of users, 62.7 % were "mother/father", and 31.9 % were health professionals. Visits came mostly from: Spain (25.86 %); Mexico (16.87 %); Argentina (7.99 %); Chile (7.31 %). The preferred access mode and device were organic searches (62.1 %) and mobile phones (73.4 %), respectively. Phytotherapy (14.4 %), antibacterial agents (12.3 %) and NSAIDs (12.3 %) were the most searched groups, and ibuprofen (6.25 %) was the most popular product. CONCLUSION: Users and consultations in e-lactation increased significantly during the study period. Mothers/fathers were the main website users, followed by health professionals. The main consulted groups were antibacterial agents, NSAIDs and systemic phytotherapy. Ibuprofen, paracetamol and amoxicillin stood out as the most consulted products. These results revealed increase Internet resources use to solve parents and health professionals' breastfeeding doubts. Future research should study how users (parents, health professionals) interact with this information.