Understanding the implementation and medium-longer term sustainability of the primary care prescribing safety intervention, PINCER: preliminary results from a longitudinal process evaluation

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Medication errors are an important cause of morbidity and mortality across primary care in England. In the National Health Service, approximately 71% of 237 million medication errors made annually are attributable to primary care(1). The complex pharmacist-led IT-based intervention to reduce clinically important medication errors (PINCER) intervention has been shown to significantly reduce medication errors when tested in a cluster randomised controlled trial and when implemented on a larger scale across one geographical region of England. However, with a national rollout of PINCER now underway across England, there remains a limited understanding of whether and how wider implementation, impact and medium-longer term sustainability across diverse regions is achieved, and what factors may influence these processes. Aim This study aimed to explore the contextual factors that influenced the nature and extent of translation, implementation and sustained use of PINCER in diverse settings over time. Methods Intervention developers and personnel involved in the PINCER rollout and staff members from Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs), Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and general practices from four regions of England, UK, were purposively recruited via research team connections and Clinical Research Networks. Interviews aimed to capture short-term (≤6 months), medium-term (6 – 18 months) and long-term (≥ 18 months) use of PINCER. Interview guides were informed by Normalisation Process Theory (NPT). Semi-structured, face-to-face or telephone interviews were conducted and digitally recorded. A preliminary thematic analysis was performed on the data collected. Results Forty-eight participants from 30 establishments, including two intervention developers, three involved in the PINCER rollout and five AHSN, seven CCG and thirty-one general practice employees were interviewed between June 2018 – June 2020. Their engagement with PINCER had either been in the medium (n=13) or long-term (n=17), (range 8 months - 5 years plus). Emerging themes identified in the preliminary analysis were: development and spread which incorporated intervention and training improvements as well as uptake, perceptions of PINCER which included awareness of PINCER as well as opinions on it and factors influencing the use of PINCER and sustainability which were mainly contextual but also related to PINCER functionalities. Within the development and spread theme, and relating to perceptions of PINCER theme, clear communication and ensuring there was an understanding of what PINCER entailed was considered important in initiating interest and uptake. Overall, PINCER was perceived positively. Key challenges to the implementation of PINCER identified were initial IT issues and workload. Policies advocating the use of PINCER, evidencing impact in reductions in the number of patients identified as being ‘at risk’ of hazardous prescribing and being able to benchmark results against other CCGs and practices helped facilitate the implementation and sustainability. Some changes made to prescribing and monitoring processes as a result of the implementation and use of PINCER, appeared to have become embedded into routine practice giving an indication of sustainable use. Conclusion Further interviews will establish if and how PINCER has been more widely adopted and normalised within primary care, in order to generate important learning to support its optimal and sustainable impact.