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NCT Number: NCT06731387

Assessing the Role of Pharmaceutical Technical Assistents in Hospital Wards: Measuring Efficiency and Medication Safety

The goal of this interventional study is to evaluate the impact of implementing pharmaceutical technical assistants (PTAs) to support the medication process on hospital wards on operational efficiency and medication safety among nurses and pharmaceutical technicial assistants. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* What is the effect of PTAs on the time spent by (night) nurses on medication dispensation? * How does their involvement influence unplanned interactions between nursing staff and the pharmacy? * What is the impact of PTAs on the safety of medication processes, including missed or delayed doses, accuracy of dispensed medication, and reported medication errors?

Researchers will compare periods with and without the involvement of PTAs in the medication management process on the hospital ward to assess differences in:

* Time spent on medication dispensation. * Frequency of unplanned interactions between hospital wards and the pharmacy. * Rates of missed or delayed medication doses. * Accuracy of dispensed medication compared to prescriptions. * Reported medication errors.

During the observed medication dispensation processes, involved nurses and PTAs will:

* Be observed while preparing medications to measure time and interruptions. * Provide data on medication errors and delays through digital systems and reports. * Complete a demographic questionnaire about their professional background. This study involves both intervention and control periods, allowing researchers to measure the specific effects of PTAs' involvement in medication processes.

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Key information

Conditions

Medication Safety Interdepartmental Communication Time Efficiency

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Vitaz

Sint-Niklaas, Oost-Vlaanderen, 9100, Belgium

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

for observed medication dispensation moments

Control Period:

  • Medication dispensation moments must be performed by nurses during the nightshift. .
  • Nurses included must have at least six months of experience working night shifts.

Intervention Period:

  • Medication dispensation moments must be performed by PTAs.
  • PTAs included must have at least six months of experience specifically in medication dispensation tasks.

Exclusion criteria

Hospital wards that introduced the involvement of PTAs less than six months ago.

Treatment and study plan

Pharmaceutical technical assistants supported medication dispensation on the hospital ward

Other

Pharmaceutical technical assistants (PTAs) visit the hospital ward for two hours in the morning or afternoon to dispense medications for admitted patients for the following day. Night nurses then complete any final additions or adjustments as needed.

Primary outcomes

  1. Time spent on medication dispensation on the hospital ward

    Time frame: Data collection was conducted over five days during the control period and five days during the intervention period on each of the included hospital wards.

    Intervention Period:

    Observing and recording the time the Pharmaceutical Technical Assistant (PTA) spends dispensing medication on the hospital ward.

    This is followed by observing and recording the time the night nurse takes to complete the medication dispensation for the next day.

    Control Period:

    Observing and recording the time the night nurse spends dispensing medication for the next day without PTA involvement.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Dispensing errors

    Time frame: Data collection was conducted over five days during the control period and five days during the intervention period on each of the included hospital wards.

    Intervention Period: Verifying the accuracy of medication dispensed by the PTA, including recording the number and type of errors identified.

    Control Period: Verifying the accuracy of medication dispensed by the night nurse, including recording the number and type of errors identified.

  2. Delayed and omitted medication doses

    Time frame: Data collection was conducted over five days during the control period and five days during the intervention period on each of the included hospital wards.

    Intervention Period:

    Reviewing the electronic medication system for the day the PTA prepared the medication. This includes recording the number of delayed or missed doses, the name and type of medication involved, and the reasons for the delay or non-administration.

    Control Period:

    Reviewing the electronic medication system for the day the night nurse dispensed the medication. This includes recording the number of delayed or missed doses, the name and type of medication involved, and the reasons for the delay or non-administration.

  3. Reported Medication Errors

    Time frame: Data collection was conducted over five days during the control period and five days during the intervention period on each of the included hospital wards.

    Collecting the reported medication errors from the hospital's incident reporting system during both the intervention and control periods.

  4. Interdepartmental Communication Between Pharmacy and Hospital Ward

    Time frame: Data collection was conducted over five days during the control period and five days during the intervention period on each of the included hospital wards.

    The exchange of information and updates between the pharmacy and the hospital ward to ensure accurate medication preparation, timely delivery, and proper administration. During both the intervention and control periods, this communication includes coordinating medication orders, addressing discrepancies, managing urgent requests, and providing guidance or clarifications as required.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Vitaz

Other

Collaborators

  • Universiteit Antwerpen
  • University of Applied Sciences Utrecht

Registry information

Official study title

Impact of Implementing Pharmaceutical Technical Assistants to Support the Medication Process in Hospital Wards: Effects on Operational Efficiency and Medication Safety

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Dec 12, 2024
Registry last updated
Jul 27, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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