Medication communication between nurses and doctors for paediatric acute care: An ethnographic study

Abstract

Aims and objectives: To examine how communication between nurses and doctors occurred for managing medications in inpatient paediatric settings. Background: Communication between health professionals influences medication incidents’ occurrence and safe care. Design: An ethnographic study was undertaken. Methods: Semi-structured interviews, observations and focus groups were conducted in three clinical areas of an Australian tertiary paediatric hospital. Data were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed using the Medication Communication Model. Results: The actual communication act revealed health professionals’ commitment to effective medication management and the influence of profess..