Evaluation of Pharmaceutical Warehouse Information Systems in the Teaching Hospitals in Tehran

Pharmaceutical Warehouse Information Systems is the software that provides drug preparation and maintenance operations from the order stage to delivery stage. To evaluate this system، different aspects of the system should be taken into consideration. In this study، the features and functionality of the system from the managers’ and users’ perspectives were examined. This applied study was descriptive - comparative in nature. Nine teaching hospitals in Tehran were selected by random sampling. Data collection was carried out by a questionnaire and a check list. The validity of the instruments of the study was determined by five experts of the system، and the reliability was measured by test-retest technique. The results showed that the managers and users agreed with significant features of Pharmaceutical Warehouse Information Systems. The technical features of the system were observed by evaluation showing that Razi hospital and the Cancer Institute used more powerful operating system and databases. In regards to system capabilities، the software used in Bouali and Amiraalam showed maximum capabilities (scored 84)، while Najmieh appeared to have minimum capabilities (scored 70). Results indicated that users were not interested in using new technologies in these systems. The technical specifications of the systems appeared to be relatively desirable and all the systems had public reporting and analysis capabilities; however، some of these systems failed to meet management by exception capabilities، supervision and maintenance issues.