Medication shortage behaviour change with multidisciplinary clinician-designed digital notification intervention

Int J Pharm Pract. 2024 Nov 13:riae064. doi: 10.1093/ijpp/riae064. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of a clinician-designed digital notification system on the use of intravenous paracetamol during a medication shortage.

Methods: An in-house digital notification platform was designed through multidisciplinary collaboration. A 4-week pre- and post-implementation methodology was employed to evaluate the effect of the intervention.

Key findings: There was significantly lower use of intravenous paracetamol in the post-implementation period compared to the pre-implementation period (median 80 doses per day, interquartile range 58 to 93, vs 94, interquartile range 83 to 122, P < .001).

Conclusions: Multidisciplinary clinician-designed digital notification platforms may assist during times of medication shortage.

Keywords: digital health; healthcare systems; medication safety; paracetamol; pharmacy.

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