Developing evidence-based medication therapy management tools for psychiatric nurses: An evaluative qualitative case study.

Abstract

Rationale, aims and objectives: Clinical use of psychotropic medications involves diverse risks, addressable by nursing interventions. The research had a dual purpose: developing an "Evidence-Based Medication Therapy Management Guideline" and a "Medication Administration-Tracking Chart" and evaluating their use through an evaluative case study.

Methods: Evidence-based guideline and chart development and evaluative case study. Initially, Evidence-Based Medication Therapy Management Guideline and Medication Administration Tracking Chart for managing medication in a psychiatric unit were developed. Subsequently, their efficacy was evaluated in a case study involving 10 participating nurses used in the psychiatric unit with 123-bed of a training and research hospital in Turkey. Data was collected through personal forms, interviews, medication charts, and researcher observations, and the analysis employed Merriam's case study method.

Results: Three themes (inception, implementation, termination, and sustainers) and 12 sub-themes emerged. Nurses stated that the research tools filled their information gaps, enhancing the medication therapy management process's effectiveness and safety, improving nursing care quality and continuity, and benefiting patient outcomes. Nurses expressed a desire to consistently use the tools in the unit and provided suggestions.

Conclusion: Nurses highlighted the tools' potential to enhance medication safety, psychiatric care, and patient outcomes. However, their stance on using evidence-based tools revealed an approach/avoidance conflict, balancing benefits and barriers. Experience emerged as a hindrance in embracing evidence-based clinical tools. This study is among the first to comprehensively develop evidence-based medication management guideline and administration-tracking chart for psychiatric nurses globally and in our country. Routine use of the tools is expected to enhance nurses' expertise in psychotropic medication management, leading to improved patient outcomes in medication-related aspects.