Quality standard
Quality statement 2: Advice about carrying personal structured drug information
Quality statement 2: Advice about carrying personal structured drug information
Quality statement
People with a new diagnosis of drug allergy are advised to carry structured information about their drug reaction at all times.
Rationale
Carrying structured information about their drug reaction at all times can minimise a person's fear of having another reaction, enhance their communication with healthcare professionals and enable the person to better manage their drug allergy.
Quality measures
The following measures can be used to assess the quality of care or service provision specified in the statement. They are examples of how the statement can be measured, and can be adapted and used flexibly.
Structure
Evidence of local arrangements to ensure that people with a new diagnosis of drug allergy are advised to carry structured information about their drug reaction at all times.
Data source: Local data collection.
Process
Proportion of people with a new diagnosis of drug allergy who are advised to carry structured information about their drug reaction at all times.
Numerator – the number in the denominator who are advised to carry structured information about their drug reaction at all times.
Denominator – the number of people with a new diagnosis of drug allergy.
Data source: Local data collection.
What the quality statement means for different audiences
Service providers (primary and secondary care services) ensure that healthcare professionals advise people with a new diagnosis of drug allergy to carry structured information about their drug reaction at all times.
Healthcare professionals advise people with a new diagnosis of drug allergy to carry structured information about their drug reaction at all times.
Commissioners (NHS England area teams) commission services that advise people with a new diagnosis of drug allergy to carry structured information about their drug reaction at all times.
People who have just been told they have a drug allergy are advised to keep the information they have been given about the allergy with them at all times.
Source guidance
Drug allergy: diagnosis and management. NICE guideline CG183 (2014), recommendations 1.2.3 (key priority for implementation) and 1.3.4
Definition of terms used in this quality statement
Structured information about a drug reaction
When a person presents with a new diagnosis of drug allergy they are advised to carry structured information about their drug reaction that includes:
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the generic and proprietary name of the drug or drugs suspected to have caused the reaction, including the strength and formulation
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a description of the reaction (see structured assessment guide)
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the indication for the drug being taken (or description of the illness if there is no clinical diagnosis)
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the date and time of the reaction
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the number of doses taken or number of days on the drug before onset of the reaction
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the route of administration
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which drugs or drug classes to avoid in future.
If the person is unable to carry this information themselves (for example, neonates or those with additional needs), it may need to be given to a carer or family member instead, but confidentiality and safeguarding must be observed.
[Adapted from NICE's guideline on drug allergy, recommendation 1.2.3 (key priority for implementation)]
Equality and diversity considerations
All written information and advice should be accessible to people with additional needs such as physical, sensory or learning disabilities, and to people who do not speak or read English. People receiving information about drug allergy should have access to an interpreter or advocate if needed.