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Liew JES, Chong Cheng Y, Tai NL, Pereira A, Manivannan V, Khoo SL, Wong WK, Lim HK, Ong SJ, Khairudin NBM, Lee KSF, Loh BCC, Chong KL, Lee YL. A before-after study to evaluate the effect of pharmacy workflow redesign to improve pharmacy waiting time and reduce medication near misses in Malaysia. Int J Pharm Pract 2024; 32:83-90. [PMID: 38289996 DOI: 10.1093/ijpp/riad083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of workflow redesign (eaST system) on pharmacy waiting time and near-missed events. We also investigated other factors that may potentially affect these study outcomes. METHODS A quasi-experimental (before-after) study design was adopted. Pre-intervention data were collected over 7 months (January-July 2017). Subsequently, the workflow redesign (eaST system) was implemented and the effect of the intervention (August 2017-February 2018) was evaluated. Univariate analysis was used to compare the differences between pre-intervention and post-intervention of pharmacy waiting time and near-missed events. Significant factors affecting study outcomes were analysed using linear regression analysis. KEY FINDINGS A total of 210,530 prescriptions were analysed. The eaST system significantly increases the percentage of prescriptions dispensed within 30 min per day (median = 68 (interquartile range (IQR) = 41) vs. median = 93 (IQR = 33), P < 0.001) and reduced the mean percentage of near-missed events (mean = 50.71 (standard deviation (SD) = 23.95) vs. mean = 27.87 (SD = 12.23), P < 0.001). However, the eaST system's effects on related outcomes were conditional on a three-way interaction effect. The eaST system's effects on pharmacy waiting time were influenced by the number of prescriptions received and the number of PhIS server disruptions. Conversely, the eaST system's effects on near-missed events were influenced by the number of pharmacy personnel and number of controlled medications. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the eaST system improved the pharmacy waiting time and reduced near-missed events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerry Ee Siung Liew
- Pharmacy Department, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Locked bag: 2029, 88586, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Yew Chong Cheng
- Pharmacy Department, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Locked bag: 2029, 88586, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Nyet Ling Tai
- Pharmacy Department, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Locked bag: 2029, 88586, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Angeline Pereira
- Pharmacy Department, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Locked bag: 2029, 88586, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Vinoth Manivannan
- Pharmacy Department, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Locked bag: 2029, 88586, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Siok Luan Khoo
- Pharmacy Department, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Locked bag: 2029, 88586, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Woei Kheen Wong
- Pharmacy Department, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Locked bag: 2029, 88586, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Huey Kuen Lim
- Pharmacy Department, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Locked bag: 2029, 88586, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Shi Jing Ong
- Pharmacy Department, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Locked bag: 2029, 88586, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Nadia Bin Mohd Khairudin
- Pharmacy Department, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Locked bag: 2029, 88586, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Kristine Sheh Fuen Lee
- Pharmacy Department, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Locked bag: 2029, 88586, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Benjamin Chuan Ching Loh
- Pharmacy Department, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Locked bag: 2029, 88586, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Kai Loon Chong
- Clinical Research Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Locked bag: 2029, 88586, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Yee Leng Lee
- Clinical Research Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Locked bag: 2029, 88586, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
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