Perception of anaesthesia staff of an automated drug dispenser as an anaesthesia workstation: Running title: Automated Drug Dispenser for Anaesthetics

Abstract

RationaleAutomated drug dispensers have replaced floor stocks and medication cabinets in all hospital areas. Anaesthesia workstations have been proven to be particularly challenging owing to the critical patients under their care and the nature of the medications they administer. Aims and objectivesTo understand how well anaesthesia personnel accept an automated drug dispenser cabinet (ADC) as an anaesthesia workstation and investigate its effect on drug management and costs in the operating room (OR). MethodsWe used mixed methods. The first part consisted of a cross-sectional study evaluating anaesthesia staff satisfaction with the ADC using a questionnaire based on the technology acceptance model (TAM). Second, we analysed the expenditure of five commonly used anaesthetic medications by the OR before and after the introduction of the ADC. ResultsWe received 63 responses from 96 anaesthesia department employees, giving us a 65.6% response rate. There was a significant positive relationship between perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU), and technology acceptance (TA) (p<0.001). Regarding PU, 38 (60.3%) respondents felt that the ADC improved their performance as anaesthetists, and 52 (82.5%) felt that it improved patient safety. Regarding ease of use, 45 (71.4%) respondents found the ADC easy to use, and 55 (87.3%) felt that learning how to use the ADC was easy. The satisfaction rate among anaesthesia department employees was 73%. Regarding drug management, the OR expenditure on hyperbaric bupivacaine, propofol, fentanyl, dexamethasone, and ondansetron dropped significantly by 462, 3,516, 1,806, 660, and 258 vials, respectively. The drop in expenditure on these five medications alone resulted in savings of 35,543.94 SAR (9,744.23 USD). ConclusionADCs can replace anaesthesia workstations and lead to cost savings and improved drug management in ORs. However, in order to succeed, cooperation will be required between the anaesthesia providers, pharmacy department, and hospital administration.