title: An Analytic Hierarchy Process-based Method to Rank the Critical Success Factors of Implementing a Pharmacy Barcode System.
abstract: Pharmacy barcode scanning is used to reduce errors during the medication dispensing process. However, this technology has rarely been used in hospital pharmacies in Saudi Arabia. This article describes the barriers to successful implementation of a barcode scanning system in Saudi Arabia. A literature review was conducted to identify the relevant critical success factors (CSFs) for a successful dispensing barcode system implementation. Twenty-eight pharmacists from a local hospital in Saudi Arabia were interviewed to obtain their perception of these CSFs. In this study, planning (process flow issues and training requirements), resistance (fear of change, communication issues, and negative perceptions about technology), and technology (software, hardware, and vendor support) were identified as the main barriers. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP), one of the most widely used tools for decision making in the presence of multiple criteria, was used to compare and rank these identified CSFs. The results of this study suggest that resistance barriers have a greater impact than planning and technology barriers. In particular, fear of change is the most critical factor, and training is the least critical factor.
authors.affiliation: Hana Alharthi, PhD, assistant professor, University of Dammam, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Department of Health Information Management and Technology, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alharthi
authors.affiliation: Nahid Sultana, PhD, assistant professor, University of Dammam, College of Computer Sciences and Information Technology, Department of Computer Science, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Nahid
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sultana
authors.affiliation: Amjaad Al-amoudi, BS, University of Dammam, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Department of Health Information Management and Technology, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Amjaad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Amoudi
authors.affiliation: Afrah Basudan BS, University of Dammam, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Department of Health Information Management and Technology, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Afrah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Basudan
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D001330:Electronic Data Processing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000523:psychology*; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000379:methods*; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D012984:Software
keywords: analytic hierarchy process (AHP); critical success factors (CSFs); pharmacy barcode system