Academic Journal
Facilitators and barriers in using barcode technology to ensure safe medication dispensing, preparation, and administration in a children's hospital: a focus group study for clinical pharmacists.
| Title: | Facilitators and barriers in using barcode technology to ensure safe medication dispensing, preparation, and administration in a children's hospital: a focus group study for clinical pharmacists. |
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| Authors: | Laakkonen L; Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland., Kvarnström K; Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.; HUS Pharmacy, Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), Helsinki, Finland., Janhunen K; Corporate Group Administration, Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County, Finland., Linden-Lahti C; Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.; HUS Pharmacy, Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), Helsinki, Finland., Kuitunen S; Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. sini.kuitunen@helsinki.fi.; HUS Pharmacy, Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), Helsinki, Finland. sini.kuitunen@helsinki.fi. |
| Source: | International journal of clinical pharmacy [Int J Clin Pharm] 2026 Aug; Vol. 48 (4), pp. 1519-1532. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Apr 02. |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: Springer Country of Publication: Netherlands NLM ID: 101554912 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2210-7711 (Electronic) NLM ISO Abbreviation: Int J Clin Pharm Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: Dordrecht : Springer |
| MeSH Terms: | Pharmacists*/standards , Pharmacists*/psychology , Hospitals, Pediatric*/standards , Pharmacy Service, Hospital*/standards , Pharmacy Service, Hospital*/methods , Pharmacy Service, Hospital*/organization & administration , Medication Errors*/prevention & control , Electronic Data Processing*/methods , Electronic Data Processing*/standards , Medication Systems, Hospital*/standards , Attitude of Health Personnel*, Focus Groups/methods ; Humans ; Qualitative Research ; Professional Role ; Electronic Health Records ; Female ; Workflow ; Male |
| Abstract: | Introduction: Barcode technology is widely used in hospitals to improve medication safety. Although this technology is considered effective for making system-wide improvements, its implementation faces several challenges. Hospital pharmacists play a key role in supporting this process. Aim: To explore clinical pharmacists' perceptions of the facilitators and barriers to using barcode technology in a pediatric hospital setting. Method: A qualitative focus group study. Fourteen clinical pharmacists working in the pediatric department of a university hospital were chosen for the focus groups (n = 3) using purposive sampling to identify the individuals who regularly use barcode technology in clinical practice. The focus group discussions, guided by a semi-structured interview guide with six questions, were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Two researchers independently conducted inductive content analysis, which was later thoroughly reviewed by the entire research group. Results: The data revealed four main themes: factors encouraging the adoption of barcode technology, factors complicating barcode workflow, ideas to improve workflow efficiency, and at-risk behaviors. Factors encouraging the adoption of barcode technology were associated with the benefits and usability of barcode technology, increased expertise and teamwork, positive user experience, and supportive functions of the electronic health record (EHR) system. Factors complicating barcode workflow included deficiencies related to barcodes in labels and drug packages, negative attitudes of users, organizational factors, the use of the EHR system, and deficiencies in workstations and equipment. These factors were found to contribute to at-risk behaviors, while ideas to improve workflow efficiency focused on removing factors complicating barcode workflow and reducing at-risk behaviors. Conclusion: Various factors can influence the implementation of barcode technology in clinical practice, underscoring the importance of an organizational process to identify system deficiencies and continuously improve usability. Building on previous studies, our research emphasized the issues related to dispensing and preparation workflows, as well as the need for pediatric-specific EHR system customization as key development areas. Our findings can guide risk management efforts in implementing and maintaining barcode technology in hospitals. (© 2026. The Author(s).) |
| Competing Interests: | Declarations. Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics approval: An approval for the study was obtained from HUS. According to the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity TENK, ethical approval is not required for the present qualitative focus group study involving healthcare professionals [33]. This study was not a medical study that interfered with a patient’s physical or mental integrity, as defined by the Finnish Act on Medical Study (1999/488). The participants received a written statement about the study and provided written informed consent to participate before the focus group discussions. The research material was anonymized during data transcription and handled confidentially, so that only members of the research group who had signed the confidentiality and data protection agreement had access to it. Consent to participate: Written informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study. Consent to publish: Not applicable. |
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| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Barcode medication administration; Barcode technology; Focus group study; Medication safety; Pediatrics; Qualitative content analysis |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260402 Date Completed: 20260714 Latest Revision: 20260813 |
| Update Code: | 20260813 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC13369583 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s11096-026-02132-0 |
| PMID: | 41925998 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 2210-7711 |
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| DOI: | 10.1007/s11096-026-02132-0 |