How can I minimise the opportunity for errors when administering to dysphagia patients?

THIS ARTICLE WILL TELL YOU ABOUT

• A study on administration errors involving patients with dysphagia
• Situations when error is most likely to occur
• Common mistakes nurses make administering medicines to people with dysphagia
• Errors associated with administration of medicines via enteral feeding tubes

YOU WOULD BE LIKELY TO REFERENCE THIS ARTICLE IF YOU WERE RESEARCHING:

• Administration of medicines
• Dysphagia
• Medicine administration errors

IN WHAT SITUATIONS WILL THIS ARTICLE BE USEFUL TO ME?

Dysphagia occurs following stroke and is also associated with Parkinson’s disease, dementia, multiple sclerosis, head injury, oseophageal cancer and throat cancer. Patients with these conditions may have difficulty taking prescribed medicines. This study identifies an increased risk of medicine administration errors in patients with dysphagia due to errors of drug formulation (tablet, capsule, liquid) or its preparation, as well as a greater risk of error in those with enteral feeding tubes. It provides useful insight into when errors are most likely to occur and the need for extra care when administrating medicines to this group of patients.

QUESTIONS FOR YOUR MENTOR/TUTOR

• How do I identify if a patient has dysphagia?
• What is the correct procedure for administering medicines via an enteral feeding tube?

STUDENT NT DECODER

• Dysphagia: difficulty with swallowing. Some people with dysphagia have problems swallowing certain foods or liquids, while others cannot swallow at all.
• Enteric coating: a special coating applied to tablets or capsules that prevents release and absorption of active ingredients until they reach the intestine.

OTHER ARTICLES YOU MIGHT FIND USEFUL

• Administration of medicines via an enteral feeding tube
• Medication errors in care homes
• Administration of drugs 1: oral route