Health-related quality of life of patients after mechanical valve replacement surgery: an integrative review.

Background: Heart valve replacement surgery is undertaken to improve cardiac function and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Mechanical valves are typically used for younger people (aged <65 years). Implantation of these valves comes with life-long health self-management requirements which potentially impact on HRQoL.

Factors contributing to incidents in medicine administration. Part 2.

The lack of empirical research on nurses' views of the factors contributing to medication errors, and particularly of studies conducted in the UK, formed the starting point for this study. Part 2 of this two-part article aims to inform the wider nursing population about the views of nurses working in the medicine directorate of a large London teaching hospital, and to explore the reporting of medication incidents and the effect of this on the practice of the nurses involved. Quantitative results of a self-administered questionnaire indicated that this group of nurses felt that the most important factors contributing to medication incidents were interruptions by patients and relatives/visitors and telephone calls during the process of administration.

Factors contributing to incidents in medicine administration. Part 1.

Part one of this two-part article explores the factors contributing to errors during the administration of medicines through a detailed literature review. Medication incidents cause serious harm to patients. In a typical NHS hospital approximately 7000 medication doses are administered daily (Audit Commission, 2002a).