Colour-coded syringe trays could improve patient safety
By Gemma Raw
A study by researchers at the University of Derby has shown that the use of compartmentalised, colour-coded syringe trays could significantly reduce the risk of medication administration errors.
The research was carried out in association with healthcare innovation company UVAMED. They approached the university to evaluate the effectiveness of their Rainbow Trays, which have been designed and developed by anaesthetists, pharmacists and healthcare workers. Designed specifically to the reduce the risk of medication errors, the trays are manufactured to BRC, ISO9001 & ISO14001 standards. They’re also CE marked and MHRA registered.
Supported by funding from Innovate UK (the government’s innovation and research agency), the University of Derby team conducted a series of independent, objective trials on the trays, carried out in realistic clinical skills suite environments at the university and at a local NHS trust hospital. They worked with consultant anaesthetists to design the research tasks, which included medical condition scenarios.
Many of those in nursing jobs are often working in fast-moving, highly challenging environments. Stress and fatigue can have an impact on cognitive ability, leading to errors which can put patient safety at risk. A 2001 survey found that there were 1 in 133 incidences of drug administration error during anaesthesia, such as accidental use of the wrong syringe.
Promising results
The results of the colour-coded trays research, which have been published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia, showed improved effiency, measured by search time for trays with errors and search time for trays with no errors. The conclusion of the researchers was that the colour-coded trays reduced cognitive load and helped make it quicker for nurses and others who are administering medication by injection to make the correct choice of syringe first time, therefore reducing the risk of administration errors.
“Our results are promising with respect to improving patient safety,” said Frances Maratos, Professor of Psychology and Affective Science at the University of Derby. “For example, the organisation of colour-coded trays may facilitate secondary checks from theatre staff such as Operating Department Practitioners, as an additional safety layer, with the aim of preventing drug errors in high-pressured environments such as operating theatres.”
A worldwide focus on medication safety
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), ‘medications are the most widely used interventions in healthcare, and medication-related harm constitutes the greatest proportion of the total preventable harm due to unsafe care’. In 2022, World Patient Safety Day focused on medication safety, supporting a wider WHO initiative entitled the Global Patient Safety Challenge: Medication Without Harm. In conjunction with the initiative, WHO has made available a range of downloadable resources for nurses and other healthcare professionals, including publications, webinars, personal stories, educational materials and a patient engagement tool.
