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Introduction <p>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.</p> Aim <p>To explore clinical pharmacists’ perceptions of the facilitators and barriers to using barcode technology in a pediatric hospital setting.</p> Method <p>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.</p> Results <p>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.</p> Conclusion <p>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.</p>

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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

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月2日

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  • Laura Laakkonen,
  • Kirsi Kvarnström,
  • Katja Janhunen,
  • Carita Linden-Lahti,
  • Sini Kuitunen

摘要

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.