Natural language processing application to identify covert administration of medicines: development and pilot audit

Aims and method The covert administration of medicines is associated with multiple legal and ethical issues. We aimed to develop a natural language processing (NLP) methodology to identify instances of covert administration from electronic mental health records. We used this NLP method to pilot an...

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Main Authors: Ninoslav Majkic, Jyoti Sanyal, Robert Stewart, Nicola Funnell, Delia Bishara
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press
Series:BJPsych Bulletin
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Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056469425000282/type/journal_article
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author Ninoslav Majkic
Jyoti Sanyal
Robert Stewart
Nicola Funnell
Delia Bishara
author_facet Ninoslav Majkic
Jyoti Sanyal
Robert Stewart
Nicola Funnell
Delia Bishara
author_sort Ninoslav Majkic
collection DOAJ
description Aims and method The covert administration of medicines is associated with multiple legal and ethical issues. We aimed to develop a natural language processing (NLP) methodology to identify instances of covert administration from electronic mental health records. We used this NLP method to pilot an audit of the use of covert administration. Results We developed a method that was able to identify covert administration through free-text searching with a precision of 72%. Pilot audit results showed that 95% of patients receiving covert administration (n = 41/43) had evidence of a completed mental capacity assessment and best interests meeting. Pharmacy was contacted for information about administration for 77% of patients. Clinical implications We demonstrate a simple, readily deployable NLP method that has potential wider applicability to other areas. This method also has potential to be applied via real-time health record processing to prompt and facilitate active monitoring of covert administration of medicines.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2056-4694
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language English
publisher Cambridge University Press
record_format Article
series BJPsych Bulletin
spelling doaj-art-791ba242f38a4beba67ff0a80e56d9a52025-08-20T03:53:51ZengCambridge University PressBJPsych Bulletin2056-46942056-47081510.1192/bjb.2025.28Natural language processing application to identify covert administration of medicines: development and pilot auditNinoslav Majkic0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2459-2971Jyoti Sanyal1Robert Stewart2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4435-6397Nicola Funnell3Delia Bishara4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6254-2054South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UKCentre for Translational Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UKMental Health for Older Adults and Dementia Clinical Academic Group, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UKMental Health for Older Adults and Dementia Clinical Academic Group, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UKMental Health for Older Adults and Dementia Clinical Academic Group, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK Aims and method The covert administration of medicines is associated with multiple legal and ethical issues. We aimed to develop a natural language processing (NLP) methodology to identify instances of covert administration from electronic mental health records. We used this NLP method to pilot an audit of the use of covert administration. Results We developed a method that was able to identify covert administration through free-text searching with a precision of 72%. Pilot audit results showed that 95% of patients receiving covert administration (n = 41/43) had evidence of a completed mental capacity assessment and best interests meeting. Pharmacy was contacted for information about administration for 77% of patients. Clinical implications We demonstrate a simple, readily deployable NLP method that has potential wider applicability to other areas. This method also has potential to be applied via real-time health record processing to prompt and facilitate active monitoring of covert administration of medicines. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056469425000282/type/journal_articleConsent and capacitynatural language processinghealth informaticsold age psychiatrydementias/neurodegenerative diseases
spellingShingle Ninoslav Majkic
Jyoti Sanyal
Robert Stewart
Nicola Funnell
Delia Bishara
Natural language processing application to identify covert administration of medicines: development and pilot audit
BJPsych Bulletin
Consent and capacity
natural language processing
health informatics
old age psychiatry
dementias/neurodegenerative diseases
title Natural language processing application to identify covert administration of medicines: development and pilot audit
title_full Natural language processing application to identify covert administration of medicines: development and pilot audit
title_fullStr Natural language processing application to identify covert administration of medicines: development and pilot audit
title_full_unstemmed Natural language processing application to identify covert administration of medicines: development and pilot audit
title_short Natural language processing application to identify covert administration of medicines: development and pilot audit
title_sort natural language processing application to identify covert administration of medicines development and pilot audit
topic Consent and capacity
natural language processing
health informatics
old age psychiatry
dementias/neurodegenerative diseases
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056469425000282/type/journal_article
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