Results of Survey on Pharmaceutical Bar Coding and Unit Dose Packaging in Hospitals

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1. Please indicate if you agree or disagree with the following statements using the following scale: 1 = strongly DISagree, 5 = strongly agree. As indicated, please provide comments or answer the follow-up questions in the right column.

Statements

Comments/Follow-up Questions

a. We've experienced problems with well-established BRANDED oral solid (tablet, capsule, etc.) products that were previously packaged by the manufacturer in UD, but which are no longer available in UD.

1- 8%

2 - 9%

3 - 11%

4 - 23%

5 - 49%

Estimated number of established BRANDED products in which this has been a problem in the past year:

1-5	14%	6-10	21%
11-15	8%	16-20	10%
21-25	4%	26-30	2%
31-35	0%	36-40	1%
40 more	4%

b. We've experienced problems with new (on the market less than 12-18 months) BRANDED oral solid (tablet, capsule, etc.) that are not available in UD.

1 -8%

2 - 7%

3 - 12%

4 - 25%

5 - 48%

Estimated number of new BRANDED products in which this has been a problem in the past year:

1-55	18%	6-10	22%
11-1	9%	16-20	5%
21-25	3%	26-30	3%
31-35	0%	36-40	0%
40 more	3%

c. We've experienced problems with old or new GENERIC oral solid (tablet, capsule, etc.) products that were previously packaged by the manufacturer in UD, but which are no longer available in UD.

1 -8%

2 -7%

3 -11%

4 -20%

5 - 4%

Estimated number of GENERIC products in which this has been a problem in the past year:

1-5	11%	6-10	15%
11-15	15%	16-20	8%
21-25	5%	26-30	4%
31-35	1%	36-40	1%
40 more	4%

d. Availability of products packaged in unit doses is important to my institution.

1 - 8%

2 - 2%

3 - 2%

4 - 6%

5 - 82%

If you disagree, do you repackage bulk supplies into unit dose packages?

Yes - 90%

No - 10%

e. The number of items available in unit dose packaging has decreased over the last 5 years.

1 - 8%

2 - 5%

3 - 10%

4 - 21%

5 - 55%

f. A slight increase in cost would not deter me from purchasing unit dose medications with a bar code.

1 - 8%

2 - 3%

3 - 6%

4 - 22%

5 - 62%

g. We would be less likely to purchase a product if it were not available in unit dose packaging.

1 - 8%

2 - 11%

3 - 20%

4 - 26%

5 - 35%

h. We would consider availability of unit dose packaging when making decisions about new drugs for the formulary.

1 - 13%

2 - 17%

3 - 25%

4 - 24%

5 - 21%

i. We would be more likely to select a therapeutic equivalent product that is available in unit dose packaging when considering therapeutic substitution policies.

1 - 8%

2 - 10%

3 - 17%

4 - 24%

5 - 41%

2. Please indicate the level of implementation using the following scale: 1 = no activity, 2 = discussed but not implemented, 3 = partially implemented in some/all areas, 4 = fully implemented in some areas, 5 = fully implemented throughout the hospital.

Statements	1	2	3	4	5
a. Machine-readable coding is used to verify drug selection prior to administering drugs.	46%	37%	5%	5%	8%
b. Machine-readable coding is used to verify drug selection prior to dispensing drugs (includes robotic dispensing).	45%	41%	5%	3%	7%

3. Please estimate of the percentage of dispensing errors in your pharmacy due in some part to errors in repackaging of bulk supplies into UD items.

a. don't repackage	b. don't know	c. less than 10%	d. 11-20%	e. 20-50%	f. greater than 50%
4%	16%	71%	7%	2%	1%

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