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dc.contributor.authorJohnsgård, Tine
dc.contributor.authorElenjord, Renate
dc.contributor.authorHolis, Renata Vesela
dc.contributor.authorWaaseth, Marit
dc.contributor.authorZahl-Holmstad, Birgitte
dc.contributor.authorFagerli, Marie
dc.contributor.authorSvendsen, Kristian
dc.contributor.authorLehnbom, Elin Christina
dc.contributor.authorOfstad, Eirik Hugaas
dc.contributor.authorRisør, Torsten
dc.contributor.authorGarcia, Beate Hennie
dc.date.accessioned2024-08-12T07:03:19Z
dc.date.available2024-08-12T07:03:19Z
dc.date.issued2024-04-09
dc.description.abstract<p><i>Background</i> Medication-related problems are an important cause of emergency department (ED) visits, and medication errors are reported in up to 60% of ED patients. Procedures such as medication reconciliation and medication review can identify and prevent medication-related problems and medication errors. However, this work is often time-consuming. In EDs without pharmacists, medication reconciliation is the physician’s responsibility, in addition to the primary assignments of examining and diagnosing the patient. The aim of this study was to identify how much time ED physicians spend on medication-related tasks when no pharmacists are present in the EDs. <p><i>Methods</i> An observational time-and-motion study of physicians in three EDs in Northern Norway was conducted using Work Observation Method by Activity Timing (WOMBAT) to collect and time-stamp data. Observations were conducted in predefined two-hour observation sessions with a 1:1 relationship between observer and participant, during Monday to Friday between 8 am and 8 pm, from November 2020 to October 2021. <p><i>Results</i> In total, 386 h of observations were collected during 225 observation sessions. A total of 8.7% of the physicians’ work time was spent on medication-related tasks, of which most time was spent on oral communication about medications with other physicians (3.0%) and medication-related documentation (3.2%). Physicians spent 2.2 min per hour on medication reconciliation tasks, which includes retrieving medication-related information directly from the patient, reading/retrieving written medication-related information, and medication-related documentation. Physicians spent 85.6% of the observed time on non-medication-related clinical or administrative tasks, and the remaining time was spent standby or moving between tasks. <p><i>Conclusion</i> In three Norwegian EDs, physicians spent 8.7% of their work time on medication-related tasks, and 85.6% on other clinical or administrative tasks. Physicians spent 2.2 min per hour on tasks related to medication reconciliation. We worry that patient safety related tasks in the EDs receive little attention. Allocating dedicated resources like pharmacists to contribute with medication-related tasks could benefit both physicians and patients.en_US
dc.identifier.citationJohnsgård T, Elenjord RE, Holis, Waaseth M, Zahl-Holmstad B, Fagerli M, Svendsen K, Lehnbom EC, Ofstad EH, Risør T, Garcia BH. How much time do emergency department physicians spend on medication-related tasks? A time- and-motion study. BMC Emergency Medicine. 2024;24(1)en_US
dc.identifier.cristinIDFRIDAID 2261250
dc.identifier.doi10.1186/s12873-024-00974-3
dc.identifier.issn1471-227X
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10037/34251
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisherBMCen_US
dc.relation.ispartofJohnsgård, T. (2024). Integrating Pharmacists in Emergency Departments: Exploring Key Factors for Future Physician-Pharmacist Collaboration.(Doctoral thesis). <a href=https://hdl.handle.net/10037/34270>https://hdl.handle.net/10037/34270</a>
dc.relation.journalBMC Emergency Medicine
dc.rights.accessRightsopenAccessen_US
dc.rights.holderCopyright 2024 The Author(s)en_US
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0en_US
dc.rightsAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)en_US
dc.titleHow much time do emergency department physicians spend on medication-related tasks? A time- and-motion studyen_US
dc.type.versionpublishedVersionen_US
dc.typeJournal articleen_US
dc.typeTidsskriftartikkelen_US


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Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)