Improving Ampoule Opening Safety: An Exploratory Comparative Study on an Innovative Ampoule Opener

Ampoules are widely used in medical settings worldwide. However, there is a lack of research comparing the safety and efficiency of various ampoule-opening methods. This exploratory study aimed to compare several parameters regarding the safety and efficiency of an innovative ampoule opener with two other methods for opening ampoules.

Six participants were recruited from a university and a medical center in Eastern Taiwan. They were instructed to open ampoules of three different capacities (2 mL, 5 mL, and 20 mL) in duplicates using three distinct methods: by hand, with scissors, and with an innovative ampoule opener. This led to a total of 18 ampoules being opened per participant.

Analysis with Generalized Estimating Equations revealed significant risks associated with using scissors, especially for larger ampoules, resulting in more spikes, indentations, and glass shards. Moreover, opening a 2 mL ampoule with scissors took significantly longer than doing so by hand. Conversely, the correct use of ampoule openers was found to result in fewer spikes and glass shards.

This exploratory study showed the importance of using ampoule openers and providing adequate training in their use to improve safety for healthcare workers and patients. Our findings also serve as a preliminary guide for future research to help in developing comprehensive safe-opening guidelines and inform best practices in healthcare settings.