Root Cause Analysis on Delayed Disposal of Expired Medicines at Masvingo Provincial Hospital, Masvingo Province Zimbabwe 2019-2020

Abstract

The disposal of expired medicines is an important subject gripping attention in the world. It has been comprehended that inappropriate disposal of expired medicines in hospitals leads to the contamination of the surrounding areas and pose a hazard to air, water, food chain, animals/livestock and even agricultural products. Human life is also threatened through inhalation and ingestion of the expired medicines. This study was a root cause analysis leading to the delay of disposing expired medicines by Masvingo Provincial Hospital. Root cause analysis (RCA) is the process of discovering the root cause of problems in order to identify appropriate solutions. The research design used in this study was quantitative research design with non-experimental correlational design data was analyzed using SPSS software. Primary data was obtained through structured questionnaires administered to Masvingo Provincial Hospital staff and responses were evaluated on a likert scale. The researcher investigated the causal effect relationship between the independent variables namely; work environment, incineration equipment, administration, staff and donation against the dependent variable effect, the variable effect meant ‘delay the disposal of expired medicines’. Results showed that work environment has a positive effect on the delay of disposal of expired medicines (F (1, 98) =1.7; Beta=2,1; p-value= 0.028). The researcher also developed a regression equation for work environment; Delay=3.7+2.1∗work (1)uunavailability of incineration equipment has a negative effect on the delay of disposal of expired medicines (F (1, 98) =1.1; p-value= 0.01: p-value = 0.00; Beta=-3.1, p-value =0.01). The negative effect implies that 1% increase in the provision of equipment to use, the delay of disposal of expired medicine drops by a certain percentage of time. The regression equation is as follows; delay=4.4-3.1*equipment (2) administration has a positive effect on the delay of disposal of expired medicines (F (1, 98) =0.0; p-value 0.029, p-value0.00; Beta=3.0 pvalue= 0.029).The regression equation is as follows ;delay=4.1+3.0*administration (3) staff has negative effect on the delay of disposal of expired medicines ( F(1, 98) =1.1; pvalue= 0.02; P-value=0.00; Beta=-2.1 p-value 0.02).The regression is as follows; Delay =4.5-2.1*staff(4)donations have a negative effect on the delay of the disposal of expired medicines F(1, 98)=0.216; p-value 0.03;p-value0.00;Beta=-3.0 p-value0.03).The regression equation is as follows;delay=4.3−3.0∗donation (5).Work environment, unavailability of equipment at the hospital to dispose expired medicines, lack of a monitoring technique of expired medicines by the administration, low pharmacy staff compliment at the hospital and donations of medicines by outsiders are the root cause of the delay to dispose expired medicines at Masvingo Provincial Hospital. Recommendations are that: revive the hospital therapeutic committees on disposal of expired medicines procure a high temperature incinerator which can dispose expired medicines; address the issue staff pharmacy to avoid fatigue lastly there is need for a computerized system to monitor the follow of drugs.