Development of Program for Drug Sub-inventory Management Using Google Application: A Case Study in Satellite Pharmacy for HIV Clinic at Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health

Abstract

Objectives 1) To develop the Program for Management of Drug Sub-inventory by Google application (PMDSI-GA) and 2) to measure work efficiency through various indicators of drug requisition, and management of antiretroviral drug in satellite pharmacy before and after the implementation of the system in HIV clinics at Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health. Method: The researchers designed the functions of the PMDSI-GA by examining the existing drug sub-inventory management, and developed the program. The developed program was reviewed by 3 health informatics experts and was modified accordingly before further testing. The researchers assessed time spent in drug inventory management and the inventory value in the period of 3 months before and after using the program. A questionnaire was employed to assess user satisfaction with the program after the implementation. Results: The PMDSI-GA was able to manage drug sub-inventory based on the user needs in areas such as entry of drug data. search of drug information, update of sub-inventory, sending an alert through Line application when drugs were about to expire within a specified time. The PMDSI-GA program passed quality assessment by experts. The developed system reduced average time spent for drug inventory management from 583.3, 615.0, 637.5 minutes per month for three months before the use of the program to 29.7, 32.3, 37.5 minutes per month for three months after program use. Moreover, inventory value was reduced by 61.81 percent. The program could deal with the problems on expired drug. Mean satisfaction with the program was 4.92±0.19 out of the full score of 5. Conclusion: The PMDSI-GA performed as needed and was compatible with existing practice by reducing time spent on the task and improving the efficiency on management of the drug sub-inventory. The users were highly satisfied with the program.