Improve the oral medication administration process in a teaching hospital affiliated with Tabriz University of Medical Sciences: Clinical Audit

Background Medication administration is an important part of care process. Because of the significant effects on patients’ health, the proper conduct of the medication administration and align it with standards are essential. So, this study was designed and carried out to investigate the Medication administration process by “clinical audit”.
Materials & Methods This study is a cross sectional study which carried out with “clinical audit” and in a hospital in Tabriz in 2014. This audit was conducted in 6 steps including: 1) choose topic of the clinical audit, 2) determine the criteria and standards, 3) check the current status, 4) compare the current situation with standards, 5) design and implement the intervention and 6) Re-audit. Observation method and checklist were used to assess the process and validity of this checklist was approved by experts.
Results The results of this study show that average accordance with standards, before intervention, was 47 percent and the accordance was very low (less than 15 percent) for 11 steps, from 25 steps of Medication administration process. However, after the intervention, the average compliance rate rose to 78 percent.
Conclusion The results indicate an overall improvement in the medication administration process. Despite improvement made, continues assessment and intervention is necessary for continuous quality improvement.