Use of design thinking to develop a benchmarking tool to assess documentation procedures in a hospital pharmacy aseptic compounding unit: a case study.

Abstract

Objectives: This paper combines the concepts of design thinking and benchmarking in an aseptic manufacturing context. Design thinking is a problem-solving approach that aims to understand user needs, generate ideas, prototypes and test solutions. There are no published examples in the Irish healthcare setting. There are also no national legislative frameworks in Ireland for compounding medicine in unlicensed hospital aseptic compounding units (ACUs). This study aims to apply design thinking principles to the development of a benchmarking process in the absence of existing frameworks.

Methods: A literature review of design thinking research and international best practice guidelines regarding sterile product manufacture documentation was undertaken to develop an initial prototype benchmarking tool. Design thinking principles were implemented by recruiting and empathising with key senior stakeholders (N=5). Semistructured interviews were conducted with these stakeholders to aid the defining, ideation and optimisation of the prototype tool. The optimised tool was then prototyped and tested in practice by end users (N=11), within an Irish ACU. End users were interviewed regarding their experience of using the tool. Transcripts of interviews were coded, and thematic analysis was undertaken to generate overarching themes to support its further development.

Results: The design thinking approach enabled the development of a benchmarking tool, which was optimised by empathising with key stakeholders. Through the process of empathising, defining, ideation, prototyping and testing, a useful benchmarking tool was developed which was deemed appropriate and accepted by its users.

Conclusions: Design thinking provides a platform for collaboration to deliver innovation and drive quality improvement in healthcare settings. The design thinking process was successful in delivering a user-centred tool for documentation procedures in an aseptic unit, which was accepted for use by end users. When exisiting guidleines and regulations are considered, design thinking shows promise as an innovation tool in Irish aseptic units, manufacturing facilities and the wider healthcare context.