TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence and sources of errors in positive airway pressure therapy provisioning
AU - Orbea, Cinthya Pena
AU - Dupuy-McCauley, Kara L.
AU - Morgenthaler, Timothy I.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 American Academy of Sleep Medicine. All rights reserved.
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - Study Objectives: The prevalence and mechanism of medication errors have been well characterized in the literature. However, no prior studies have investigated the frequency and characteristics of errors in the positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy provisioning process when treating patients with sleep-disordered breathing. Just as medication errors may result in unwanted outcomes, it might be anticipated that errors in providing PAP to patients might lead to suboptimal outcomes. Our study seeks to examine the characteristics and frequency of PAP provisioning errors. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of a cohort of patients in whom sleep-disordered breathing had been diagnosed and subsequently PAP therapy was prescribed. At a 90-day return visit, the PAP therapy the patient was receiving was compared with the intended therapy. Discrepancies were categorized as either prescribing errors (the prescription did not match the intended modality or settings), or setup errors (the modality or settings did not match the prescription). Results: The overall PAP provisioning error rate was 8%, with errors most commonly occurring during the set-up process. In univariate analysis, insurance type (P = .003), treatment modality (P = .002), and device brand (P = .05) were associated with error and remained significant in multivariate analysis (model fit P = .002). Compliance, residual AHI, and difference in Epworth Sleepiness Scale were not affected by the presence of error. Conclusions: PAP provisioning errors are common and might contribute to poor treatment outcomes. Errors might be reduced by standardizing terminology across devices, standardizing prescription forms to improve clarity, and by enhanced quality assurance at durable medical equipment suppliers.
AB - Study Objectives: The prevalence and mechanism of medication errors have been well characterized in the literature. However, no prior studies have investigated the frequency and characteristics of errors in the positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy provisioning process when treating patients with sleep-disordered breathing. Just as medication errors may result in unwanted outcomes, it might be anticipated that errors in providing PAP to patients might lead to suboptimal outcomes. Our study seeks to examine the characteristics and frequency of PAP provisioning errors. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of a cohort of patients in whom sleep-disordered breathing had been diagnosed and subsequently PAP therapy was prescribed. At a 90-day return visit, the PAP therapy the patient was receiving was compared with the intended therapy. Discrepancies were categorized as either prescribing errors (the prescription did not match the intended modality or settings), or setup errors (the modality or settings did not match the prescription). Results: The overall PAP provisioning error rate was 8%, with errors most commonly occurring during the set-up process. In univariate analysis, insurance type (P = .003), treatment modality (P = .002), and device brand (P = .05) were associated with error and remained significant in multivariate analysis (model fit P = .002). Compliance, residual AHI, and difference in Epworth Sleepiness Scale were not affected by the presence of error. Conclusions: PAP provisioning errors are common and might contribute to poor treatment outcomes. Errors might be reduced by standardizing terminology across devices, standardizing prescription forms to improve clarity, and by enhanced quality assurance at durable medical equipment suppliers.
KW - Continuous positive airway pressure
KW - Medical errors
KW - Medication errors
KW - Prescriptions
KW - Sleep apnea syndromes
KW - Treatment outcome
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U2 - 10.5664/jcsm.7752
DO - 10.5664/jcsm.7752
M3 - Article
C2 - 31053209
AN - SCOPUS:85066353556
SN - 1550-9389
VL - 15
SP - 697
EP - 704
JO - Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine
JF - Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine
IS - 5
ER -