Mixed methods evaluation of a digital tool to support the transfer of medication information from ICU to ward
Authors' conclusion
There is significant potential for technology to support transfer of medication information from ICU to the ward and improve safety if technology is designed well and aligns with how work is done in practice.
Study context
- Population
- ICU-to-ward patient transfers at one metropolitan and one regional hospital in NSW, Australia
- Participants
- 200 patient transfers
- Comparison
- Pre vs Post
- Outcome
- Medication errors and potential patient harms during ICU-to-ward transfers
Methodological detailspragmatic pre-post chart-review study and qualitative study, usability testing, semi-structured interviews, two-centre (one metropolitan, one regional hospital)
- Pragmatic pre-post chart-review study and qualitative study
- Usability testing
- Semi-structured interviews
- Two-centre (one metropolitan, one regional hospital)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Transfers containing an error
Further findings
Medication error with eTOC use
| OR (95 % CI) | ||
|---|---|---|
| eTOC useOdds more than halved | 0.44 (0.27–0.71) | |
| 0.20.5125Odds ratio (log scale) |
eTOC use and uptake (qualitative; usability testing n = 4, interviews n = 11)
- System inconsistently used; barriers in system design/configuration and context of use and organisation (e.g., time pressure) impacted uptake
Original publication
Mixed methods evaluation of a digital tool to support the transfer of medication information from ICU to ward. J Crit Care. Published 7 August 2025. doi:10.
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