Management control of drug administration programs

The relationship between type of drug administration (pharmacy technician versus nurse) and the efficiency and effectiveness of managerial control systems was studied. The sample included pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and nurses working at one hospital that used technicians for drug administration for 9 of 22 units. Pharmacists and technicians completed a questionnaire for a unit where technicians administered drugs and for a unit where they provided all pharmaceutical services except drug administration. Nurses completed one questionnaire regarding their patient unit. A total of 368 questionnaires were distributed; the response rate was 83.7%. Using hierarchical multiple regression analysis, type of drug administration was the independent variable and complexity and variability of patient-unit technology were moderators of its effects on nine dependent variables. There was no main effect of type of drug administration or moderating effect of technology on number or percentage of medication errors. Pharmacists reported exercising more behavior control when supervising nurses than technicians. Nurses and technicians perceived that pharmacists exercised greater control on units where nurses performed drug administration tasks of low variability. While technicians and nurses provided drug administration services of similar quality, this study suggests that pharmacists can mange technicians more efficiently than nurses in drug administration tasks on units where the tasks are relatively routine.