Katie Sturgill
Research Mentor(s): Yun Jiang
Research Mentor School/College/Department: School of Nursing
Presentation Date: 08/03/2022
Presentation Type: Poster
Poster Number: 4
Session: Session II: 1:30 – 2:20pm
Room: League Ballroom
Authors: Katie Sturgill, Xiaotao Dong, Ajsa Jasarevic, Yun Jiang, PhD
Abstract
Frequent transitions of care among cancer patients increase the risks of medical errors, poor patient outcomes, and adverse events. To achieve the goal of medication safety, patients need to become proactive and fully involved in medication self-management by using self-monitoring techniques. The purpose of this study is to understand patients’ perceptions of self-reporting medication safety events or concerns from home and develop appropriate reporting systems to meet their needs and expectations. We survey and interview patients diagnosed with lung, colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers who are under oral anticancer treatments and have recently experienced care transitions from hospitals or clinics back home. Patients with these four types of common cancers have high rates of comorbidities, and at high risks for medication-related safety events. Patients who recently initiated a new treatment plan are also more likely to encounter medication errors since the process is new to them.
When reaching out to participants, we send over surveys through the patients’ email addresses or mail those directly to their place of residence. The survey consists of 10 sections, with a total of 68 questions. The questions are straightforward regarding the patients’ socio-demographics, along with questions regarding the patients’ medication safety use. Each question is answered with a five-point Likert scale, ranging from “strongly disagree,” “disagree,” “neither agree nor disagree,” “agree,” to “strongly agree.” Examples of questions asked on the survey include “I sometimes worry about the long-term effects of my medications” or “How safe did you feel with regards to clinicians listening to you and responding to your individual needs.” After participants complete the survey, they also have the option to complete a phone interview with the monetary compensation for their time. The phone interview consists of questions about the patients’ experiences and thoughts on medication safety event self-reporting. When conducting phone interviews, it is our goal to collect as much information regarding the patients’ first-hand opinions on using technology to report such concerns. As of now, we have completed a total of 186 surveys and 10 interviews.
What we hope to accomplish soon is reaching our goal of 200 surveys along with 40 interviews. Results will be used to support the development of an online medication safety reporting system. Following that, we will evaluate usability and patient engagement in the use of the reporting platform and assess outcomes of use.
