title: Accuracy and time requirements of a bar-code inventory system for controlled substances.
abstract: The effect of a bar-code system on personnel time requirements and data-entry accuracy in an existing automated controlled substances inventory system was determined. In the previous system, technicians used a keyboard and alphanumeric codes to enter into the computer data about the physical transfer of controlled substances among hospital areas. A system for barcode data entry was adapted for use with the existing procedure. After learning to use the bar-code system, four experienced technicians entered data by the keyboard method for eight days and the bar-code method for eight days during a 32-day study period. The amount of time required to enter all transactions and the accuracy of data entry were measured. Mean data-entry times for the keyboard and bar-code methods were not significantly different, most likely because of the greater number of manipulations needed for bar-code data entry. The mean percentage error associated with the bar-code method (0.79%) was significantly less than the error associated with the keyboard method (1.53%). For this particular computer system in which bar-code data entry was adapted to existing procedures, use of bar codes to enter controlled substances inventory data was not substantially faster but was more accurate than a traditional key-board data-entry method.
authors.affiliation: Saint Vincent Hospital, Worcester, MA 01604.
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Dinklage
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lenhart
authors.forename: H N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Godwin
mesh_terms: D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control; D001330:Electronic Data Processing; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D007445:Inventories, Hospital; D007615:Kansas; D009294:Narcotics; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics