Surveillance of chronic disease patients’ medical error In Nongchok district , Bangkok

Abstract

This qualitative research aimed to study the surveillance of chronic disease patients’ medical error and study the problems of the surveillance of chronic disease patients’ medical error in a community of Nongchok District, Bangkok.  The research populations consisted of 4 home-visiting nurses and 20 chronic disease patients in the community. 

The interview form was used as the data collection tool.  The research results found that the home-visiting nurses were women aged 20-60.  The chronic disease patients in the community were male by 30% and female by 70%.  They were over 60 years old.  There were 4 hypertension patients and 16 diabetes patients.  According to the interview results, the home-visiting nurses of Lam Phak Chee Health Center 44 had the guidelines on the surveillance of medical error by complying with the nurses’ roles in accordance with the nursing profession concept.  The home-visiting nurses participated in solution to the drugs taking and health problems of the patients.  They also gave the advice on correct use of drugs and created the innovation in the surveillance of chronic disease patients’ medical error.  The interview results found that the surveillance of chronic disease patients’ medical error in the community was at a moderate level.  The chronic disease patients in the community well cooperated in health care.  The chronic disease patients in the community forgot to take drugs by 70% and did not check the expiry date of drugs by 60%. 

As for research recommendations, the home-visiting nurses should give knowledge of drugs taking to the chronic disease patients in the community and teach these patients to prepare drugs in each meal to prevent them from forgetting to take drugs.  The home-visiting nurses should give the advice on checking the expiry date of drugs to the chronic disease patients and family members of the patients.