Application of drug-use review principles to intravenous administration set use: a preliminary study

A quantitative study of the use of intravenous administration sets in a 556-bed hospital was conducted as a first step in establishing a use-review program for administration sets. Central supply and pharmacy distribution points for i.v. administration sets were identified. Patient use of i.v. administration sets was recorded twice daily for seven-day periods on each of six patient-care units; data for all units were collected within a three-month period. Use of six common administration sets was studied. For each patient-care unit studied, the majority of sets used were of two of the six types; the specific set types differed by unit. More sets were used between the hours of 0801 and 2000. The number of sets per i.v. patient day (one patient receiving i.v. therapy on one day) was greatest in the intensive-care units. Through application of components of drug-use review, the numbers and types of i.v. administration sets used in various patient-care areas were identified.