Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41151839›Full record

ArticleBMJ open quality2025

Quality improvement project to enhance adherence to RCEM standards for patients with paracetamol overdose.

Dayana El Nsouli, Christopher Chung, Holly Wilkins, Tawfiq Alqeisi, Manzar Maqsood, Raminder Sandhu, Paige Emily Bate-Jones, Graham D Johnson, Azaad Jameel

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open quality, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Dayana El NsouliSchool of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK dayana.elnsouli@nhs.net.ORCID 0000-0003-4961-4399
Christopher ChungHealth Foundation, København V, Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark.ORCID 0009-0005-0304-6914
Holly WilkinsEmergency Department, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, England, UK.ORCID 0009-0000-4946-9350
Tawfiq AlqeisiTrauma and Orthopaedics Department, Chesterfield Royal Hospital, Chesterfield, England, UK.ORCID 0009-0007-6124-0816
Manzar MaqsoodPharmacy Department, Royal Derby Hospital, Derby, England, UK.ORCID 0009-0005-4315-9315
Raminder SandhuPharmacy Department, Royal Derby Hospital, Derby, England, UK.ORCID 0009-0007-2701-2254
Paige Emily Bate-JonesNewmedica, London, UK.ORCID 0009-0007-7522-2395
Graham D JohnsonEmergency Department, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, Derby, England, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-6004-6244
Azaad JameelEmergency Department, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, Derby, England, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDelayed or inconsistent administration of

methodThis QIP was conducted at Royal Derby Hospital using a multidisciplinary, systematic approach based on Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles. Baseline data were collected from 100 randomly selected patients (November 2021-May 2022) and compared with outcomes during a 52-week intervention period (September 2023-August 2024). Interventions included educational sessions, quick reference materials and enhanced prescribing tools. Data were analysed for compliance with RCEM standards, adverse events (liver function derangement and anaphylactoid reactions) and system-level measures, such as length of inpatient stay and timing of paracetamol plasma levels.

resultsA total of 214 patients were included. Compliance with RCEM standard 1 improved from 36% to 43%. No change was noted for standards 2 and 3. Median inpatient stay decreased from 35 hours to 30.5 hours. No significant differences were found in adverse events. Special cause variation was identified in paracetamol plasma level timing, attributed to early sampling in some cases.

conclusionThis QIP addressed problems of delayed or inconsistent NAC administration in the ED by improving compliance with RCEM standard 1 and reducing inpatient stay while maintaining patient safety. Although standards 2 and 3 did not improve, the interventions proved cost-effective, feasible and scalable. Future work should focus on sustaining improvements and exploring patient-centred outcomes across diverse healthcare settings.

Indexed as

AcetaminophenDrug OverdoseGuideline AdherenceQuality ImprovementAcetylcysteineAdultAnalgesics, Non-NarcoticEmergency Service, HospitalFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedScotlandAcetaminophenAcetylcysteineAnalgesics, Non-NarcoticMedication safetyPDSAQuality improvement

Identifiers

PMID41151839
PMCPMC12570900

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.