Mean Absolute Standard Deviation Research Articles

Implementation of supply management strategies by the pharmacy service in a general hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic

ObjectiveGiven the global uncertainty faced due to the Covid-19 pandemic, health services were forced to adjust inventory management and purchase projections. This publication aims to describe the strategies taken and their impact on the supply chain indicators by the pharmacy service in the management of drug purchases during the pandemic to expose the importance of pharmacist in charge of the supply chain. MethodsThis observational study describes the drug purchasing system in a general hospital and the strategies used to manage drug supply. The actions proposed by the pharmacy department are listed chronologically related to inventory issues and purchasing decisions. The accuracy of the purchase forecast was evaluated by calculating indicators such as the mean absolute standard deviation (MAD) and the variance of the forecast error (MSE). Inventory days and inventory turnover indicators were also compared in pre-pandemic and pre-pandemic periods. FindingsIn general, the forecast error given by MAD and MSE tended to decrease. Specifically, from the 82 drug categories, during the pandemic period, this indicator decreased in 72 (88%), increased in 9 (11%), and remained the same in only 1 (1%) of the categories. In financial terms, comparing the 2018–2019 and 2020–2021 periods, a favorable result was obtained when evaluating the inventory turnover indicators, which decreased by 0.01 points and the days of inventory increased on average by two days. ConclusionsThe implementation and use of these indicators prevented drug shortages, reducing inventory forecast errors. A pharmacist with knowledge in inventory management allows managing a process of continuous improvement and tactics for efficient inventory management without neglecting the benefit to patients or the economic profitability of the service. There were limitations since digital operating systems do not generate centralized or organized data for this type of analysis.

Investigation of Pulse Transit Time Characteristics During Single and Recurrent Obstructive Respiratory Events

Conventional overnight polysomnography (PSG) used to determine the respiratory behaviour during sleep can be a complex and expensive procedure. Pulse transit time analysis (PTT) has shown potential to detect obstructive apnoeic and hypopnoeic events (OE) in adults. Due to abnormalities in central ventilatory control, recurring OE may occur. This study was undertaken to determine the potential of PTT to differentiate responses during upper airway obstruction in the paediatric population. This preliminary study included 11 children (10 male; aged 7.5 +/- 3.8 year) recruited to investigate PTT trend during single and recurrent OE. PTT measurements were evaluated against the corresponding PSG results pre-scored by two blinded observers. A total of 110 valid OE (47 single and 63 recurrent) were observed during these PSG studies. There were distinct PTT responses observed for these two types of OE with respect to those of tidal breathing (P < 0.05). For the tidal breathing events, the mean absolute standard deviation (SD) and maximal percentage (%) decrease (MAX) were 7.71 ms and 3.88% respectively. For the recurrent OE, the absolute SD, SD (%) and MAX were 52.21 ms, 8.52% and 55.08% accordingly while for the single OE, the absolute SD, SD (%) and MAX were 12.23 ms, 5.27% and 13.56% respectively. The findings herein can suggest that PTT can be a valuable clinical tool in the paediatric respiratory sleep studies.