Exploring the role of Human Factors and Ergonomics in supporting safe insulin dispensing in community pharmacy: a pilot webinar-based training intervention
- 1Strategic Performance and Planning Group, Health and Social Care, Department of Health, Belfast, UK
- 2University of Aberdeen Medical School, Aberdeen, UK
- 3NHS Education for Scotland, Edinburgh, UK
Abstract
Background: Ensuring safe dispensing of insulin remains a patient safety priority in community pharmacy, with errors related to product similarity, task complexity and workload. Human Factors and Ergonomics (HF/E) principles and methods assist in examining these system-level issues but are underused in this setting.
Methods: A pilot educational intervention of three 2-hour online interactive webinars was developed and delivered to pharmacy staff (n=27 to 32) in Northern Ireland. Topics covered included foundational HF/E concepts, such as the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) framework, Systems Thinking principles and human-centred design of standard operating procedures (SOPs). Participants applied SEIPS to a real-world insulin incident scenario to identify performance-influencing factors influencing outcomes. A simple ‘Quick Checker’ tool to support SOP development was co-designed.
Results: Participants identified multiple interacting system factors affecting safe insulin dispensing, including technology limitations, workflow complexity and product design. Post-session evaluation was uniformly positive: all respondents agreed the sessions were useful and improved their understanding of HF/E, and 78% (n=18/23) of those attending the session strongly agreed they could apply SEIPS in practice. Educational resources were packaged into an accessible bundle for further dissemination and the ‘Quick Checker’ guide for SOP development was produced.
Conclusions: This pilot demonstrated the feasibility and value of embedding HF/E education in time-pressured community pharmacy to support safer insulin dispensing. Integrating HF/E concepts into pharmacy education and development would assist in developing more resilient medication safety systems.
Related
- The impact of health education intervention on knowledge, attitude, and practice of office workers about office ergonomics: a randomized controlled trial
- Near-miss dispensing errors in Japanese community pharmacies: error types and associated factors across dispensing stages
- What is the value of value dialogues? An interview study exploring a collaborative approach with patients and professionals supporting values-driven healthcare in a tertiary care hospital.
- Dispensing behaviour in relation to opioid-containing antitussives: a survey among community pharmacists
- Supporting adolescent menstrual health to improve participation and performance in physical activity: rapid realist review to inform a logic model for intervention development
BibTeX
@article{carrington2026exploring,
title = {{Exploring the role of Human Factors and Ergonomics in supporting safe insulin dispensing in community pharmacy: a pilot webinar-based training intervention}},
author = {Angela Carrington and Helen Vosper and Paul Bowie},
journal = {BMJ Open Quality},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1136/bmjoq-2026-004364},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjoq-2026-004364},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Exploring the role of Human Factors and Ergonomics in supporting safe insulin dispensing in community pharmacy: a pilot webinar-based training intervention
AU - Angela Carrington
AU - Helen Vosper
AU - Paul Bowie
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/02
JO - BMJ Open Quality
DO - 10.1136/bmjoq-2026-004364
UR - https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjoq-2026-004364
AB - Background: Ensuring safe dispensing of insulin remains a patient safety priority in community pharmacy, with errors related to product similarity, task complexity and workload. Human Factors and Ergonomics (HF/E) principles and methods assist in examining these system-level issues but are underused in this setting. Methods: A pilot educational intervention of three 2-hour online interactive webinars was developed and delivered to pharmacy staff (n=27 to 32) in Northern Ireland. Topics covered included foundational HF/E concepts, such as the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) framework, Systems Thinking principles and human-centred design of standard operating procedures (SOPs). Participants applied SEIPS to a real-world insulin incident scenario to identify performance-influencing factors influencing outcomes. A simple ‘Quick Checker’ tool to support SOP development was co-designed. Results: Participants identified multiple interacting system factors affecting safe insulin dispensing, including technology limitations, workflow complexity and product design. Post-session evaluation was uniformly positive: all respondents agreed the sessions were useful and improved their understanding of HF/E, and 78% (n=18/23) of those attending the session strongly agreed they could apply SEIPS in practice. Educational resources were packaged into an accessible bundle for further dissemination and the ‘Quick Checker’ guide for SOP development was produced. Conclusions: This pilot demonstrated the feasibility and value of embedding HF/E education in time-pressured community pharmacy to support safer insulin dispensing. Integrating HF/E concepts into pharmacy education and development would assist in developing more resilient medication safety systems.
SN - 2399-6641
ER -