Abstract
Background: Barcode technology in healthcare has advanced significantly and has become essential for patient safety. Multifunctional devices, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), are integrated with electronic health records, enabling real-time documentation through barcode scanning at the patient’s bedside.
Aim: This study aimed to explore nurses’ perspectives regarding the barcode point-of-care (POC) system using mobile PDAs, focusing on medication administration, blood transfusions, and specimen collection.
Methods: This qualitative descriptive study collected data through focus group interviews with 24 nurses between September and November 2023. The data were analyzed using content analysis.
Results: Participants acknowledged that although the barcode POC system enhances patient safety, it can also impede nursing workflow. They reported that the POC system improved accurate patient identification and increased their confidence in performing nursing tasks correctly. Additionally, they found the PDA convenient as it was connected to the electronic medical record, enabling them to look up and enter nursing information directly at the patient’s bedside. However, participants noted that work delays were primarily caused by issues such as unrecognized barcodes due to crumpling, slow or disconnected wireless internet connections, automatic logouts after a certain period, and the multiple steps required to log in. Concerns were also raised about the risk of infection from the shared use of the device and the protocols following its use with infected patients. Furthermore, participants identified several strategies that facilitated the effective use of this system, including providing feedback on individual nurses’ usage at the ward level and improving functions based on nurses’ requests at the institutional level.
Conclusion: To effectively implement and utilize the barcode POC system, it is crucial to emphasize its importance and ensure user compliance, identify challenges faced by users, and provide the necessary support. Additionally, it is essential to disseminate information on manuals and protocols and create an environment conducive to efficient system operation.
Notes
References:
Barakat, S., & Franklin, B. D. (2020). An evaluation of the impact of barcode patient and medication scanning on nursing workflow at a UK teaching hospital. Pharmacy, 8(3), 148. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmacy8030148
Bench, S., & Lennox, S. (2024). Nurses’ perceptions of point of care testing in critical care: A cross-sectional survey. Nursing in Critical Care, 29(1), 99–106. https://doi.org/10.1111/nicc.12869
Jeong, H. W., & Lee, S. (2022). Nurses’ perceptions of using personal digital assistants in tertiary hospitals. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 40(10), 682-690. https://doi.org/10.1097/CIN.0000000000000914
Mulac, A., Mathiesen, L., Taxis, K., & Granås, A. G. (2021). Barcode medication administration technology use in hospital practice: A mixed-methods observational study of policy deviations. BMJ Quality & Safety, 30(12), 1021-1030. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjqs-2021-013223
O'Neill, K., Dunn, M., & Dory, K. P. (2024). So many barcodes, so little time: A quality improvement project to improve scanning of blood product bags. Patient Safety, 6(1): 122085. https://doi.org/10.33940/001c.122085
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Descriptive/Correlational
Research Approach
Qualitative Research
Keywords:
Acute Care, Emerging Technologies, Barcode Point-of-Care, Personal Digital Assistants, PDAs, Electronic Health Records, Real-time Documentation
Recommended Citation
Han, Jimi and Kang, Hee Sun, "Enhancing Patient Safety: Nurses’ Perspectives on Barcode Point-of-Care Systems" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 90.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/posters_2025/90
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Enhancing Patient Safety: Nurses’ Perspectives on Barcode Point-of-Care Systems
Seattle, Washington, USA
Background: Barcode technology in healthcare has advanced significantly and has become essential for patient safety. Multifunctional devices, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), are integrated with electronic health records, enabling real-time documentation through barcode scanning at the patient’s bedside.
Aim: This study aimed to explore nurses’ perspectives regarding the barcode point-of-care (POC) system using mobile PDAs, focusing on medication administration, blood transfusions, and specimen collection.
Methods: This qualitative descriptive study collected data through focus group interviews with 24 nurses between September and November 2023. The data were analyzed using content analysis.
Results: Participants acknowledged that although the barcode POC system enhances patient safety, it can also impede nursing workflow. They reported that the POC system improved accurate patient identification and increased their confidence in performing nursing tasks correctly. Additionally, they found the PDA convenient as it was connected to the electronic medical record, enabling them to look up and enter nursing information directly at the patient’s bedside. However, participants noted that work delays were primarily caused by issues such as unrecognized barcodes due to crumpling, slow or disconnected wireless internet connections, automatic logouts after a certain period, and the multiple steps required to log in. Concerns were also raised about the risk of infection from the shared use of the device and the protocols following its use with infected patients. Furthermore, participants identified several strategies that facilitated the effective use of this system, including providing feedback on individual nurses’ usage at the ward level and improving functions based on nurses’ requests at the institutional level.
Conclusion: To effectively implement and utilize the barcode POC system, it is crucial to emphasize its importance and ensure user compliance, identify challenges faced by users, and provide the necessary support. Additionally, it is essential to disseminate information on manuals and protocols and create an environment conducive to efficient system operation.
Description
The study aimed to help with the following: 1) enhance understanding of the barcode point-of-care (POC) systems with personal digital assistance, highlighting its advantages and the challenges perceived by nurses in relation to medication administration, blood transfusions, and specimen collection; 2) identify potential support strategies to maximize the beneficial functions of the barcode POC system, thereby enhancing the quality of care and improving work efficiency.