A qualitative study of pharmacists' perceptions regarding the implementation of automated pharmacy dispensing systems in the United Arab Emirates' hospitals.

Hashad, Nortan; Al Hajri, Lamia; Mohamed, Heba; Hussein, Saeed; Al Naeem, Waeil; Alzarooni, Shamma; Almarri, Ayesha; Ibrahim, Ayah; Albanna, Fatma; Alattar, Maryam

Abstract

Background and Objective: Automated dispensing systems (ADS) are one of the strategies used in pharmacy to enhance medication management effectiveness and efficiency, hence curb the consequences of medication errors1. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), ADS has been widely implemented, yet pharmacists’ perceptions and views regarding ADS and the barriers and facilitators concerning its implementation are not clearly reported in the literature. The aim of this study is three-folds: (1) explore hospital outpatient pharmacists’ perception regarding ADS (2) explore the readiness of pharmacists to embrace the change 3) explore the facilitators and barriers towards the implementation of ADS. Method: A phenomenological qualitative approach was adopted using audio-recorded semi-structured interviews. Participants were recruited purposefully, and snowball sampling was utilized as well. To be eligible, the interviewee should be an outpatient pharmacist in an acute care hospital and have witnessed ADS's pre and post-implementation. The topic guide which was piloted was underpinned by the merits of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) and surveyed literature. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed independently by two researchers using CFIR2. Main outcome measures: Outcomes included the perspectives and views of participants in relation to ADS implementation in outpatient setting of acute care hospitals in UAE. Results: Eight interviews (approximately 15–20 minutes) were conducted with outpatient pharmacists from two governmental and two private sector hospitals where the point of saturation was achieved. Several benefits were reported such as; avoiding medication errors, less workload, better time effectiveness and inventory management. It was also found to enhance patient satisfaction by decreasing waiting time and allowing more time for the pharmacist to counsel the patient. Yet, ADS implementation was found to be challenging in terms of financial requirements, structural and infrastructure changes, training and continuous technical support. Facilitators reported are; financial support, leadership and pharmacy staff engagement. Barriers are fear of job loss, lack of pharmacy space to install ADS and no observed benefits in pharmacies with low dispensing rate. Conclusion: ADS were found to be beneficial especially in facilities with high dispensing rates. Engaging staff and leadership is expected to facilitate implementation allowing more time for the pharmacist to focus on pharmaceutical care and patient safety.

Citation

HASHAD, N., AL HAJRI, L., MOHAMED, H., HUSSEIN, S., AL NAEEM, W., ALZAROONI, S., ALMARI, A., IBRAHIM, A., ALBANNA, F. and ALATTAR, M. 2021. A qualitative study of pharmacists’ perceptions regarding the implementation of automated pharmacy dispensing systems in the United Arab Emirates’ hospitals. Presented at 49th ESCP (European Society of Clinical Pharmacy) virtual symposium on clinical pharmacy (ESCP 2021): clinical pharmacy, working collaboratively in mental health care, 19-21 October 2021, [virtual conference].

• Presentation Conference Type: Poster
• Conference Name: 49th ESCP (European Society of Clinical Pharmacy) virtual symposium on clinical pharmacy (ESCP 2021): clinical pharmacy, working collaboratively in mental health care
• Conference Location: [virtual conference]
• Start Date: Oct 19, 2021
• End Date: Oct 21, 2021
• Deposit Date: Dec 21, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 21, 2021
• Keywords: Automated dispensing systems (ADS); Pharmacy; Effectiveness; Efficiency; Medication errors; United Arab Emirates (UAE)
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/1555729
• Additional Information: Abstract published as:; HASHAD, N., AL HAJRI, L., MOHAMED, H., HUSSEIN, S., AL NAEEM, W., ALZAROONI, S., ALMARI, A., IBRAHIM, A., ALBANNA, F. and ALATTAR, M. 2021. Pharmacists’ perceptions regarding the implementation of automated pharmacy dispensing systems in the United Arab Emirates’ hospitals: a qualitative study. International journal of clinical pharmacy [online], 43(6): 49th ESCP (European Society of Clinical Pharmacy) virtual symposium on clinical pharmacy (ESCP 2021): clinical pharmacy, working collaboratively in mental health care, 19-21 October 2021, [virtual conference], article PP056. Available from: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11096-021-01352-w