Development and Design of Web Application for Handling Medication Errors Information in Hospital: Concept and Problem Solving using Health-related Informatics

Abstract

Objective: To identify problems on recording, analyzing, and summarizing medication errors, and develop a web application for these tasks. Methods: Development of web application was based on health informatics concept (Searching Analytics Management Presentation: SAMP). The study explored the problems of existing medication error reporting systems by interviews with practicing pharmacists. Subsequently, the findings were summarized using the fishbone chart. The researchers analyzed the finding to establish the process of web application development and relationship between each part of the system in order to summarize steps of the system. Data flow was displayed using a flow diagram tool. The researchers developed web application using PHP, HTML, CSS language with JavaScript and Ajax. MySQL database was employed in the study. The developed web application was evaluated by 3 informatics experts, and tested in 13 pharmacists whose work related to the report of medication errors. Results: Review by experts revealed that the web application passed 41 test-codes and some suggestions for improvement were suggested. After revising the web application according to suggestion, testing in hospital pharmacists found that subjects were highly satisfied in 4 domains including 1) the use of the system, 2) efficiency, 3) effectiveness, and user satisfaction. Conclusions: Improving information system by web applications developed according to the concept of SAMP for resolving the problems in working system achieved its objectives. The users were satisfied with the app. Method for improving information systems in this study could be applied for improving other systems in the future.