Jonathan Yong Jie Lam, Michael Barras, Ian A Scott, Ahmad Abdel-Hafez, Nazanin Falconer
Stakeholders recognised the value of digital RPTs in supporting medication safety. Understanding their perceptions and experiences is necessary for addressing barriers and enhancing tool acceptability. This study highlighted desirable tool features and organisational factors that influence successful implementation. These findings can inform strategies for effective implementation, adoption, and sustained use of RPTs in hospital settings.
INTRODUCTION: Risk prediction tools (RPTs) use clinical data to estimate the likelihood of adverse events such as medication harm and institute preventive strategies. However, their adoption in hospitals can be limited by implementation challenges, workflow integration barriers, and technical constraints.
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine clinicians' and informaticians' perspectives on the requirements, factors influencing adoption of digital RPTs for medication harm in hospitals, and to identify effective implementation strategies.
METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with clinicians and informaticians in three Australian digital hospitals within the Metro South Hospital and Health Service in 2025. Themes were inductively identified and deductively mapped to the Integrated Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (i-PARIHS) framework.
RESULTS: Twenty-two interviews were conducted with six doctors, eleven pharmacists, and five informaticians. Five themes were identified, reflecting key influences on the implementation of digital RPTs in hospitals, including clinician trust, perceived utility, and organisational readiness. Desired features such as automation, feedback functionality, and workflow compatibility were seen as essential to adoption. While enablers included comprehensive feedback mechanisms and adequate resource planning, barriers included poor integration with existing systems and uncertainty around tool reliability.
CONCLUSION: Stakeholders recognised the value of digital RPTs in supporting medication safety. Understanding their perceptions and experiences is necessary for addressing barriers and enhancing tool acceptability. This study highlighted desirable tool features and organisational factors that influence successful implementation. These findings can inform strategies for effective implementation, adoption, and sustained use of RPTs in hospital settings.