About the Project
An estimated 237 million medication errors occur in England every year [1], accounting for 10–20% of all adverse events in the National Health Service (NHS). Preventable harm from medicines is estimated to cost more than £450 million each year [2]. Reducing medication errors remains a priority nationally and internationally. In the UK, Foundation (junior) doctors undertake the majority of prescribing in the hospital setting, yet are often poorly prepared due to serious weaknesses in existing educational approaches. Evidence suggests that Foundation trainees doctors make errors in 8–10% of the prescriptions they sign [3].
The SCRIPT eLearning programme standardises postgraduate teaching for prescribers across the NHS workforce. The web-based programme is integrated into the training curricula for all Foundation trainee doctors, specialist Paediatric trainees and Dental Foundation trainees in England. The resource is recognised in national guidance and reports, including Royal College of Physicians guidance for supporting junior doctors. A multi-method evaluation of the programme provided an insight into how best to integrate eLearning into postgraduate medical education, as well as the impact of the learning on knowledge [4, 5]. However, the impact of the programme on prescribing behaviour and whether this has reduced the rate of medication errors has not been investigated.
The aim of this project is to determine whether SCRIPT eLearning has an impact on the safety of patients in the NHS.
The objectives of the research are to:
• Ascertain the perception of prescribers in relation to the impact of SCRIPT on prescribing behaviour and confidence.
• Determine whether access to SCRIPT in regions across England and Wales has changed the rate of serious untoward incidents relating to the use of medication.
Applications are invited from self-funded PhD students only.
Person Specification
Acceptable first degree (please indicate acceptable first degree: Pharmacy; medicine; biomedical science. The standard minimum entry requirement is 2:1).
Mode of study: Full-time
Informal enquiries and applications should be directed to Dr Sarah Pontefract ([Email Address Removed])
To be considered for this studentship, please send the following documents to Dr Pontefract:
• A detailed CV, including your nationality and country of birth;
• Names and addresses of two referees;
• A covering letter highlighting your research experience/capabilities;
• Copies of your degree certificates with transcripts;
• Evidence of your proficiency in the English language, if applicable.
References
1. Elliott RA, Camacho E, Campbell F, et al. Prevalence and Economic Burden of Medication Errors in the NHS in England. Policy Research Unit in Economic Evaluation of Health and Care Interventions. Sheffield, United Kingdom: University of Sheffield and University of York; 2018.
2. Pirmohamed M, James S, Meakin S, Green C, AK Farrar K, Park, BK, Breckenridge A. Adverse drug reactions as cause of admission to hospital: prospective analysis of 18 820 patients. BMJ 2004;329:15.
3. Dornan T, Ashcroft D, Heathfield H, Lewis P, Miles J, Taylor D, Tully M, Wass V. An in depth investigation into causes of prescribing errors by foundation trainees in relation to their medical education. EQUIP study. London: General Medical Council. 2009 Dec:1-215.
4. Brooks, H.L., et al., An evaluation of UK foundation trainee doctors’ learning behaviours in a technology-enhanced learning environment. BMC Medical Education, 2016. 16(1): p. 133.
5. Brooks, H.L., et al., Perceptions and Impact of Mandatory eLearning for Foundation Trainee Doctors: A Qualitative Evaluation. PLOS ONE, 2016. 11(12): p. e0168558.
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