Automated administration of intermittent intravenous doses

Area of Science:

• Pharmacoeconomics
• Health Services Research
• Nursing Practice

Background:

• Conventional intravenous piggyback (IVPB) administration involves separate containers for each dose.
• Automated intermittent intravenous (i.v.) administration systems offer an alternative method for drug delivery.
• Evaluating cost-effectiveness and practical usability of different i.v. drug administration systems is crucial for optimizing healthcare resources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the materials cost and drug waste associated with conventional IVPB cimetidine administration versus an automated multiple-dose i.v. system.
• To assess the practical use and nurse preference for the automated intermittent i.v. administration system.
• To identify potential challenges and solutions for implementing automated i.v. drug delivery systems.

Main Methods:

• Two-phase study evaluating cimetidine 300 mg IVPB administration.
• Phase 1: Quantified drug waste for conventional (single-dose minibag) and automated (IVAC Multi Dose System) methods over 30 days.
• Phase 2: Assessed practical use via nurse questionnaires and performed a materials cost analysis.

Main Results:

• Drug waste was comparable between systems: 12.2% for conventional and 12.7% for automated.
• The automated multiple-dose system demonstrated a lower cost per dose of cimetidine ($2.25 vs. $3.47).
• The majority of nurses preferred the automated system, despite some identified operational challenges.

Conclusions:

• Automated intermittent i.v. administration systems can reduce the materials cost of drug administration.
• Observed cost savings may justify the investment in automated system equipment.
• Further evaluation of total hospital cost impact and comparisons with other systems are recommended.