Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007
Conference Proceedings
Margaret Treacy RPN, RGN,
Bredagh house
Ballybane road
Galway
091730089
bredaghhouse@eircom.net
Mary Mulvihill RPN, RGN,
Bredagh house
Ballybane road
Galway
091730089
bredaghhouse@eircom.net
“Take charge of administering a patient’s medication and he’ll be
compliant while he is in hospital. Put him in charge, with supervision
and he’s likely to stay compliant even when he goes home” (1984
Clarke-Mahoney)
The programme is set in a 24-hour nurse community mental health
hostel. It has seven residents aged between 21 years and 53 years,
two female and five male.
In keeping with the philosophy of self-care in Bredagh House this
programme is to facilitate maximum development of our service
users potential in an effort to promote independent living skills.
“Increasing the effectiveness of adherence interventions may have a
far greater impact on the health of the population than any other
improvement in specific medical treatments.” (2002 Haynes et al)
This programme is directed towards helping the service user to
manage their own medication with minimum or no supervision. It
will provide the service user with the education and knowledge re
the names of their medication, dosage, effects and side effects.
At first a literature review was carried out and a project plan was
put in place. After negotiations with management a policy was
drawn up for a pilot study.
Each resident was assessed by medical and nursing staff re
suitability to self-medicate and their consent was sought to
participate. The programme commenced in July 2006 involving two
participants. In August 2006 five more participants were recruited,
making a total of seven.
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