INFORMed choices: facilitating shared decision-making in health care.

A clinical audit was undertaken before and after the introduction of a five-minute video presentation as an adjunct to the clinical consultation in the setting of ruptured membranes at term. The video framed clinical information using an INFORM structure: providing Information, Facts, Options, Reasons, Meaning. Subsequently, women were more likely to report that information was unbiased, based on facts and evidence that they were involved in the decision-making and overall satisfied with the information provided.

Reducing the risk of harm from intravenous potassium: a multi-factorial approach in the haematology setting.

AIMS: To describe the implementation of safety systems for the use of intravenous potassium chloride in haematology patients. METHODS: We assessed the use of intravenous potassium in a haematology ward at a tertiary hospital. Initially, we prospectively analysed the prescribing and administration of intravenous potassium to all patients over a two-week period. To complement this data, we retrospectively analysed all clinical incidents involving intravenous potassium and the dispensing patterns of potassium ampoules for the past 12 months. Drawing on evidence and recommendations from international safety literature, gaps in the safe use of potassium were identified, and a multi-factorial approach to system change was implemented. RESULTS: A total of 18 patients were analysed with 90 intravenous bags of potassium prepared on the ward using 624 ampoules. We identified multiple opportunities for error and a lack of standardisation of therapy. The following safety systems were introduced: (i) a new prescribing and monitoring form that included dose calculation, prescriber support and pre-printed orders; (ii) removal of potassium ampoules and introduction of premixed bags; (iii) independent double checking by nursing staff at point of administration; (iv) dedicated labelling of intravenous lines; (v) extensive clinician training supported by guidelines; and (vi) introduction of 'smart pump' infusion software. The number of incidents significantly reduced from 23 to 9 (p < 0.001), and the number of ampoules dispensed reduced from 10,100 to 0. CONCLUSIONS: A multi-factorial approach to the safe prescribing, dispensing and administration of intravenous potassium has reduced the potential for patient harm in the haematology setting.