Effect of patient’s own medication management on medication waste in an orthopaedic inpatient population

Abstract

Background: Medication wastage has detrimental effects on both the environment and rising healthcare costs. Patient’s own medication (POM) use combined with self-administration of medication (SAM) during hospitalisation might reduce medication wastage. Objective: To determine if POM use and SAM reduce the volume of medication waste during hospitalisation. As secondary objectives the monetary value of the medication waste and the views of both patients and hospital staff on medication wastage in relation to POM use and SAM were determined. Methods: A prospective pre- post intervention study was conducted at the Elisabeth-Tweesteden Hospital, Tilburg, The Netherlands. All patients admitted to the orthopaedic ward at location TweeSteden between the 8 th of March 2022 and the 28th of May 2022 were included. Data on medication waste was collected in volume of medicines (in pieces) and in monetary value (in €). A 5-point Likert scale survey was conducted to get insight into the views of patients and hospital staff on medication wastage. All data were analysed using descriptive statistics in SPSS. Results: The volume of wasted medicines decreased with 44.3% from 477 to 331 pieces per 100 inpatient days. The monetary value in hospital purchase price of wasted medicines decreased with 151.8% from €283.80 to €112.70 per 100 inpatient days. Based on the national pharmacy purchase price, the decrease was 382.4% from €549.90 to €114.00 per 100 inpatient days. Overall, both the patients and hospital staff were positive towards POM use and SAM as means to reduce medication wastage. Conclusion: The implementation of POM use and SAM during hospitalisation seems to have the potential to reduce medication waste and concomitant costs at an orthopaedic ward.