Barcode Scanning Technology to Improve Pre-dispensing Errors

Abstract

Background: Unsafe medication practices and medication errors are leading causes of avoidable harm in health care systems across the world. Medication errors occur when weak medication systems and/or human factors. World Health Organization (WHO) suggests using computer technology to improve safety at all levels of healthcare. Pre-dispensing errors incident at Mae Fah Luang University Medical Center Hospital was higher than other university hospital that led to dispensing errors.

Objective: To describe handheld computer improving pre-dispensing errors.

Materials and Methods: This research was prospective and quasi-experimental study. This study was divided into 2 phases; the first phase was the development and run-in with handheld computer. The second phase was the effectiveness before and after study using handheld computer for packing.

Results: Handheld computer could reduce pre-dispensing errors caused by handling wrong drug, wrong dosage form and wrong strength of medicines as compared with those using traditional methods significantly (p-value < 0.01). This was a statistically significant reduction of the errors from 41.7% to 26.4% especially in look-alike, sound-alike (LASA) drugs 8.3% to 2.8%. Two errors were found because of the returned medication in the wrong location and pharmacist assistant not using the handheld computer. Median outpatient waiting time was decreased from 11 minute to 9 minute. The satisfaction of users was statistically significant with an increase from moderate to high level of the average scoring (3.2 to 3.8) (p-value = 0.03).

Conclusion: The study showed that barcode scanning technologywith handheld computer could help reduce medication errors, especially LASA drugs. Furthermore, this technology could improve efficacy and patient safety other than the use of barcode scanning system by pharmacist and barcode medication administration (BCMA) by nurse