TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluation of the causes and cost impact of returned intravenous medications at a tertiary care hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
AU - AlSamanhodi, Hamza
AU - Almeshary, Meshary
AU - Amoh, Kwame
AU - Aldekhael, Saleh
AU - Alkatheri, Abdulmalik
AU - Alharbi, Shmeylan
AU - AlAmmari, Maha
AU - AbuRuz, Salah
AU - Albekairy, Abdulkareem
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Pharmacotherapy Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, 300001 Nigeria. All rights reserved.
PY - 2017/1
Y1 - 2017/1
N2 - Purpose: To evaluate the main reasons for returning intravenous (IV) medications and to determine its cost impact in an in-patient setting in a Saudi tertiary care hospital. Methods: The study was conducted over a one-month period at the central IV room of the in-patient pharmacy unit at King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. All returned IV medications were evaluated in terms of frequency, causes and cost. Results: The total number of IV medications returned was 2,061 items. The most common reasons for returning IV medications were drug discontinuation (933 items, 45.3%), dispensing of an extra quantity (396 items, 19.2%), patient deaths (173 items, 8.4%), dose changes (171 items, 8.3%) and drugs being held (150 items, 7.3%). The total cost of all the returned IV medications was US$26,805.80), which accounts for (13.65%) of the total pharmacy’s budget. Wasted medication cost was US$13,877.80) which constitute 51.77% of returned medication cost. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that IV medication wastage is a serious problem with significant cost impact, with drug discontinuation and dispensing of an extra quantity of medication being the two main reasons for returning IV medications. Effective communication among health care professionals, pharmacist training, and adherence to standard practice guidelines might be the most vital strategies to reduce medication wastage.
AB - Purpose: To evaluate the main reasons for returning intravenous (IV) medications and to determine its cost impact in an in-patient setting in a Saudi tertiary care hospital. Methods: The study was conducted over a one-month period at the central IV room of the in-patient pharmacy unit at King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. All returned IV medications were evaluated in terms of frequency, causes and cost. Results: The total number of IV medications returned was 2,061 items. The most common reasons for returning IV medications were drug discontinuation (933 items, 45.3%), dispensing of an extra quantity (396 items, 19.2%), patient deaths (173 items, 8.4%), dose changes (171 items, 8.3%) and drugs being held (150 items, 7.3%). The total cost of all the returned IV medications was US$26,805.80), which accounts for (13.65%) of the total pharmacy’s budget. Wasted medication cost was US$13,877.80) which constitute 51.77% of returned medication cost. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that IV medication wastage is a serious problem with significant cost impact, with drug discontinuation and dispensing of an extra quantity of medication being the two main reasons for returning IV medications. Effective communication among health care professionals, pharmacist training, and adherence to standard practice guidelines might be the most vital strategies to reduce medication wastage.
KW - Cost impact
KW - In-patient
KW - Intravenous medications
KW - Medication wastage
KW - Tertiary care
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U2 - 10.4314/tjpr.v16i1.31
DO - 10.4314/tjpr.v16i1.31
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85011411891
SN - 1596-5996
VL - 16
SP - 231
EP - 237
JO - Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
JF - Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
IS - 1
ER -