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Abstract
Background The hospital pharmacist is responsible for guaranteeing drug safety and efficacy. In 2008, the pharmacy service drew up recommendations for the use of multidose drugs (MD) which, once opened, require proper storage conditions.
Purpose To analyse the storage and conservation of multidose pharmaceutical specialties such as oral or rectal solutions, suspensions and effervescent tablets in nursing units, including intensive care units (ICU) and emergencies, in order to eliminate improper practices and propose better usage.
Material and methods A cross sectional observational study was performed in the hospital`s nursing units in September 2015. An Excel data gathering sheet was designed to include the name and number of the specialities found, number of MD opened, closed, with no written opening date or conservation conditions, prescribed in the electronic prescription programme and other observations.
Results Global analysis: MD found, 118; 2 closed and not expired; 115 opened, with no recorded opening date, expiry date or conservation conditions; and 1 opened with expiry date. Detailed analysis: we designed a quality indicator for multidose drug use (QIMD)). QIMD=number of prescribed specialities/multidose drugs found × 100. Specialty unit: internal medicine 3, QIMD=10.5%; surgery, QIMD=20%; internal medicine 4, QIMD= 5%; orthopaedic surgery, QIMD=17.6%; internal medicine 5, QIMD=25%; digestion, QIMD=10.7%; infectious diseases, QIMD=16%: ICU, QIMD=0%; emergencies, QIMD=100%.
Conclusion We found that 97.5% of MD had been opened with no opening date recorded, which undermines the quality of the pharmaceutical specialty. In addition, 17% of multidose specialties were prescribed. Based on the results, we make three proposals: (1) strengthen the 2008 recommendations by formulating a protocol for handling MD; (2) inform and train nurses to comply with the protocol and (3) design a manual for MD usage and a leaflet on the stability of multidose pharmaceutical specialties.
References and/or Acknowledgements
References and/or AcknowledgementsNo conflict of interest.