Interventions on WHO Nine Patient Safety Solutions to Improve Safety in Nemazi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran - 2014

Introduction: Modern healthcare systems are composed of highly complicated sets of activities which can be beneficial to patients, but they may lead to negative outcomes. The aim of this study was to conducted an interventional study in two of our hospitals’ pediatric wards concerning implementation and assessment of the WHO’s 9 patient safety solutions. We also attempted to identify the ways to improve compliance in our hospital’s pediatric cardiology and neurology wards. Methods: In this experimental study conducted on all nurses in targeted wards of Namazi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran during 2014 to collect the data, we extracted the WHO guidelines on the 9 patient safety solutions for using in the research and educating healthcare workers. The completed forms were then analyzed through SPSS Version 18.0, using descriptive statistics, means, standard deviations and t-tests, when appropriate. The two solutions with the lowest compliance scores were selected for intervention. These included “assuring medication accuracy at transitions in care” and “avoiding catheter and tubing misconnections.” To improve these two solutions, an interventional program was designed and implemented. Results: Compliance scores from the cardiology department concerning “assuring medication accuracy at transitions in care” solution increased from 34.16% to 75.00% after intervention. In the neurology department compliance scores increased from 36.66% to 68.33%. Regarding the “avoiding catheter and tubing misconnections” solution, scores increased from 46.87% to 72.91% in the cardiology ward and 40.27% to 67.53% in the neurology department. Conclusion: Results indicate that interventions, such as training courses, checklists and reporting forms concerning medication reconciliation improved compliance. This was also true for use of checklists to improve compliance in the proper catheter and tubing connections solution area.