EXPLORING THE FACTORS INFLUENCING THE CONTINUED USE OF MEDICATION EVENT REPORTING SYSTEMS IN COMMUNITY PHARMACIES

Abstract

Medication incidents, also known as medication errors, within community pharmacies (CPhs), persist as significant safety concerns despite the evolution of medication dispensing practices. Understanding and addressing these incidents are crucial for enhancing workflow practices, mitigating risks, and enhancing patient safety. Digital platforms and information systems have emerged to facilitate incident reporting and management, thereby fostering continuous quality improvements in safety protocols. However, despite the imperative and mandatory nature of reporting medication incidents and near misses, the continuous use of these systems to report incidents remain suboptimal. This study delves into the factors influencing the continued use of these systems within CPhs. Grounded in IS Continuance theory and some factors from the Techno-stress model, the proposed research model is designed to elucidate key determinants. Through a survey of 206 pharmacy practitioners, we identify several factors impacting the ongoing use of these reporting systems, including perceived usefulness, confirmation of system expectations, techno-overload, social pressure, and perceived threat. Our findings underscore the complexities surrounding the continuous use of healthcare technologies in community pharmacies. We discuss the implications of these factors for pharmacy practice and academic scholars interested in enhancing our understanding of medication incident reporting and continuous use of these systems.