Evaluating the Efficiency and Staff Satisfaction of the Point-of-Care IV Activated System Versus Traditional Piggyback in Administering IV Antibiotics at a Saudi Tertiary Hospital.

BACKGROUND

This study aims to compare resource utilization and staff satisfaction between the point-of-care (POC) activated system and the traditional intravenous piggyback (PB) system in hospital pharmacy settings.

METHODS

Employing a pre-post quasi-experimental design from November 2019 to April 2020, the study assessed resource requirements for both the POC activated system and the traditional PB system. Additionally, a staff satisfaction survey was conducted, focusing on staff experiences related to the pharmacy preparation process and the subsequent activation of the system by nurses.

RESULTS

The POC activated system required significantly fewer full-time equivalents (FTEs) per month compared to the PB system (0.36 ± 0.05 vs. 1.56 ± 0.07; < 0.0001). Using POC in automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs) reduced medication administration time and returns (6.41% vs. 1.75%; < 0.0001). The staff satisfaction survey revealed greater satisfaction with the POC activated system. A subsequent analysis showed the POC activated system had a low expiration rate of 0.1% and a cost of 39 Saudi riyal, while the traditional system had higher expiration rates and cost of 46,260 SR.

CONCLUSIONS

The POC activated system reduced FTEs, decreased returned medications, and enhanced staff satisfaction compared to the PB system.