Authors (including presenting author) :
Liu MTT(1), Mak HK(1), Cheung CY(1), Chan HK(1), Li CP(1)
Affiliation :
(1)Department of Pharmacy, North District Hospital
Introduction :
Manual prescribing of total parenteral nutrition (TPN), combined with fax-based communication, is prone to transcription errors and lacks computerized validation. To address these risks, a locally developed mobile application, ReadyMadeTPN, was designed to streamline the prescribing and verification of TPN regimens while providing structured drug information to healthcare professionals.
Objectives :
This study aimed to quantitatively assess the time required to manually input TPN medication administration records (MAR) compared to using the ReadyMadeTPN app. Additionally, qualitative feedback from dispensers was gathered to evaluate the app’s usability, accuracy, and overall impact on workflow.
Methodology :
Seven pharmacy dispensers were recruited to complete two sets of TPN MARs: one with correct electrolyte values (SETA) and one with incompatible electrolyte values (SETB). Each set was processed manually and with the assistance of the ReadyMadeTPN app, totaling four tasks per participant. Completion times were recorded, and efficiency was analyzed using paired t-test. Qualitative feedback on the app’s features was collected via a structured questionnaire and analyzed descriptively.
Result & Outcome :
Statistical analysis revealed significant time savings(p<0.05) with ReadyMadeTPN for both SETA (p=0.003) and SETB (p=0.001). On average, dispensers saved 3.4 minutes per correct MAR entry and 4.2 minutes per incorrect MAR entry compared to manual calculations. Feedback from all participants indicated that the app was user-friendly, accurate, reliable, and effective in reducing calculation errors and workload. While one participant was neutral regarding the adequacy of training, the others agreed that training was sufficient.
