Comparison of two methods of observing work areas in a hospital pharmacy.

Two methods of observing the work area within a pharmacy of an acute care, 140-bed hospital were compared. A work activity recording form was developed from the literature and from discussion with the pharmacy staff. The instrument was coded, tested, and refined in a pilot study. One hospital pharmacy department work area was personally observed for a period of time equal to an entire work week. A time-motion camera was placed in the pharmacy which recorded the activities in the same pharmacy work area for a second work week. The results indicated that the two methods of observation were approximately equivalent for observing the work activities of the nonpharmacists but not for the work activities of the pharmacists. The camera method of observing work areas of a hospital pharmacy appeared to be reliable and inexpensive, but it lacked the precision obtained with the personal observation mode. Further use of time-motion cameras within the hospital pharmacy setting are indicated.