PROPOSAL OF FINAL YEAR PROJECT

DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF E-MEDICINE CABINET

SYSTEM USING RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION
(RFID)

PROPOSED BY

HAZIQ ARIFFIN BIN ABD MALEK

2016669736

SUPERVISOR

DR ISMARANI BINTI ISMAIL

FACULTY OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITY TEKNOLOGI MARA
MALAYSIA
Abstract

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is considered as “one of the most pervasive computing
where technologies in history” [1]. RFID is used for a wide variety of applications ranging
from the familiar building access control proximity cards to supply chain tracking, toll
collection, vehicle parking access control, retail stock management, ski lift access, tracking
library books, theft prevention, vehicle immobilizer systems and railway rolling stock
identification and movement tracking. Compared to other active Wireless Sensor Networks
(WSNs), RFID tags do not need a battery, recharging, and so have no battery power loss
problems. RFID tags are tiny in volume, and can be embedded into different objects. RFID
also is an emerging technology, being used in monitoring including healthcare. While most
attention has centered on RFID applications in the retail industry, RFID opportunities in the
healthcare and pharmaceutical field have started to attract a lot of interest from technology
leaders as well as medical organization. An e-medicine cabinet system is a system that assists
users in managing all medicine and know when the expired date of the medicine using RFID
technology. The objective of this project is to develop a database medicine to store the
information and location of the medicine for tracing purpose. This project are to design a
Graphical user Interface (GUI) that integrated with the database system and RFID system.
This project also is to develop a hardware that can be edit at database and display at
computer. Finally, this project is to perform tag analysis for suitability by tag. This project
using RFID reader and sticker. A RFID reader is configured to read a RFID stickers to
reserve all information and location of the medicine in the cabinet. The cabinet has LED to
show the location of the medicine. The design of this system used Graphical User Interface
(GUI) that integrated with the database system and RFID system. The GUI form is used to
make the system easy to understand by the workers. The GUI form is developing by using
Visual Studio 2015. Next, the database of this system use Microsoft Excel 2016. This system
use ARDUINO UNO based on ATmega328P as microcontroller and Development Graphical
User Interface using Blynk Application.
Introduction

E-Medicine Cabinet System using Frequency Identification Technology (RFID) is a

system that manages all medicine tracking and tracing movement when doctor or patients
requested at any time and know when the expired date of the medicine. This system are
suitable in clinic because easy to maintain and very systematic. The application of this system
enables the users to maintain a consistent checking over the movement of medicines in or out
and it can alert the users when the expired date of the medicine. In this system, the system
will record the submitted data of the medicine in database using RFID tag and when this
verified once, the data of the medicine will be finalized and stored in the database. This will
make the doctor or patients received the correct medication within a short period of time. E-
Medicine Cabinet System is a system which is capable of tracking the location and alert the
users when the expired date of the medicine within the clinic or policlinic area using Radio
Frequency Identification Technology (RFID). E-Medicine Cabinet System was designed to
support worker to arrange and find medicine in the cabinet so that time taken takes are less.
Next, this system also can check which medication he/she has currently available. Other
features include out-of-date detection and alarms for potential product recalls. RFID reader
refers to the use of radio frequency wave to identify and track the tag implanted into an object
such as medicine. RFID is a radio-frequency identification and refers to a technology
whereby digital data encoded in “RFID stickers”. Using “RFID stickers” on objects
(medicine), and “readers” to gather the tag information, RFID represents an improvement
over RFID sticker in terms of non-optical proximity communication, information density, and
two-way communication ability [1]. The reader will convert the tag information into a more
usable form of data. Then, the data will be stored in a database and analysis at later time. All
the data will be present at monitor.

Managing these medicine present a considerable more challenge at clinic then at

hospital because lack of workers. For example, Poliklinik An-Nur at Bandar Tun Hussein
Onn, Cheras, Selangor still use the conventional medicine in the traditional management of
medicine. The policlinic has around a hundred over medicines with few workers that need to
take a long time to arrange and find a specific medicine. This situation will make the doctor
or patients wait and get frustrated because it takes a longer time to get their medicine. Other
situation, if the patient received a wrong medication that causes harm to the patient or will
probably die. Each year, in the United States alone, 7,000 to 9,000 people die as a result of a
medication error. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of other patients experience but often
do not report an adverse reaction or other complication related to a medication. The total cost
of looking after patients with medication-associated errors exceeds $40 billion each year. In
addition to the monetary cost, patients experience psychological and physical pain and
suffering as a result of medication errors. Finally, a major consequence of medication errors
is that it leads to decreased patients satisfaction and a growing lack of trust in the healthcare
system [2][3]. In Malaysia, there were 3,526 medication errors reported to the Patient Safety
Unit of the Health Ministry in 2014 until 2015, with 248,307 near misses in the same period.
A near miss is a medication error that was detected and action taken before the medicine was
received by or administered to a patient [4].
Recent Research

Martín López-Nores, José J. Pazos-Arias, Jorge García-Duque and Yolanda Blanco-

Fernández (2008) from Department of Telematics Engineering, University of Vigo, Spain
researched “Monitoring Medicine Intake in the Networked Home The iCabiNET Solution”.
The group introduce an intelligent medicine cabinet as a new element of a residential
network, acting as a secure place to store sensitive health information, and therefrom access a
range of interactive health care applications. This paper described the functionalities related
to monitoring the intake of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, harnessing recent
advances in smart medicine packaging and home networking. Compared to previous systems,
ours helps reducing the risk of medicine misuse, featuring higher precision and enhanced
interactive facilities that reach in and out of home. This contributes to solving a problem that
impinges heavily on the well-being of people and the economics of public health systems.

Jyothi K Vinjumur, Eric Becker, Shahina Ferdous, Georgios Galatas, Fillia Makedon
(2013) from Heracleia Laboratory, Department of CSE University of Texas at Arlington
represented the paper with title” Web Based Medicine Intake Tracking Application“. One of
the issues in healthcare systems or medical information systems is the reduction of medical
errors to ensure patient safety. Inside an assistive environment, the research apply RFID tags
to monitor drug taking pattern and its consequences are reported to the care giver. This paper
talks about an application which tracks the medicine intake pattern for the elderly using RFID
readers and tags, motion sensors, and a wireless sensor mote. With the adoption of this
ambient assistive technology in healthcare systems, the concept of heterogeneous sensor data
management becomes an issue. The research used a Web Based Caregiver Module makes the
process of monitoring medicine intake for health-related matters of the elderly living alone
simpler and easier. The project also propose to use an energy efficient technique by using
multiple sensor devices which employ a sequence of in-network data fusion as needed.

Jianying Feng, Zetian Fu, Zaiqiong Wang, Mark Xu and Xiaoshuan Zhang (2013)
from College of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China researched about
“Development and evaluation on a RFID based traceability system for cattle/beef quality
safety in China”. This paper aims to develop and evaluate a RFID-based cattle/beef
traceability system (RCBTS) that incorporates PDA and barcode printer which can perform
traceability throughout cattle's life cycle and provide accurate traceability information.
Furthermore, a model about data acquisition and transmission of traceability information
exchange is conceptualized according to the survey of the cattle/beef supply chain. All data
and information about cattle and beef will be stored in the user data space.

Haris Krasniqi (2013) from the Faculty of Architecture and Engineering, Epoka
University presented the paper with title “File Tracking System”. This paper has discussed
about a Wed Application which aim to serve offices that has to do with management file,
especially universities, in the best way possible. The whole system was designed to overcome
the disadvantages of file management, lack of staff and take longer time. This system will
improve the work efficiency and short time to make the job done by using RFID. This system
will help tracking the file whenever it is missing.

Mahyidin and Abdullah (2008) from Faculty of Electrical & Electronics Engineering,
University Malaysia Pahang presented about “Student Attendance Using RFID System”. This
project used ID card as RFID tag and RFID reader. This system are design for make easier to
lecturer to get attendance in case if they have to handle 10 thousand student. In the other
hand, this RFID system will be integrated with software. The main objective of this project is
to develop a tracking device that track with big quantity by using RFID system. This system
need to build interface that will integrated with RFID system and will show the bar code.
Another interface also need to capture and record student attendance. This method is more
effective to prevent problem in process getting attendance manually.

Qiao Jiang and Junming Xu, (2015) from Institute of Electron Device & Application
Hangzhou Dianzi University Hangzhou, China with title “Design of Smart Medicine Cabinet
Based on STM32F107 and Network”. This paper designs a smart system cabinet based on
STM32F107 and network, which can notify the aged to take medicine in time, and record the
action of taking medicine all time, and send the results to server though the network module.
The server will record the time of taking medicine, and according to the time to judge
whether the aged take medicine in time. If not, the server will send text to family’s mobile
phone through SMS Gateway, letting them to grasp the situation in time. It is more useful for
the aged who always forget to take medicine. For the information, STM32F107 can
incorporates the high performance ARM® Cortex™-M3 32-bit RISC core operating at a 72
MHz frequency, high speed embedded memories (Flash memory up to 256 Kbytes and
SRAM up to 64 Kbytes), and an extensive range of enhanced I/Os and peripherals connected
to two APB buses.
Problem Statement

Medication error (ME) is defined as "any preventable event that may cause or lead to
inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the
health care professional, patient, or consumer. Such events may be related to professional
practice, health care products, procedures, and systems, including prescribing; order
communication; product labelling, packaging, and nomenclature; compounding; dispensing;
distribution; administration; education; monitoring; and use" [10]. It accounts for one-third of
preventable drug-related harm and is the eighth leading cause of death in the US with more
than 98,000 mortality annually, exceeded those from car accidents, breast cancer, or AIDS
[11]. The Malaysian National Patient Safety Council defines medication error as “any
preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm
while the medication is in the control of the health care professional, professional, patient or
consumer. Such an event may be related to professional practices, health care products,
procedures and systems, including prescribing, order communication, product labelling,
packaging and nomenclature, compounding, dispensing, distribution, administration,
education, monitoring and use”.

ME is a worldwide issue, but most studies on ME have been undertaken in developed

countries and very little is known about ME in Southeast Asian countries. This study aimed
systematically to identify and review research done on ME in Southeast Asian countries to
identify common types of ME and estimate its prevalence in this region. Southeast Asia is a
region of enormous cultural, economic and social diversity. It consists of eleven countries:
Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand,
Timor and Vietnam, collectively known as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) [1]. The total population of this region is approximately 600 million (9% of the
world’s population) with Indonesia being the region’s most populated country (comprising
40% of the total population of Southeast Asia) while Brunei is the least populated [12, 13].
The 17 included studies reported data from six of the eleven Southeast Asian countries: five
studies in Singapore, four in Malaysia, three in Thailand, three in Vietnam, one in the
Philippines and one in Indonesia. There was no data on MEs in Brunei, Laos, Cambodia,
Myanmar and Timor [14].

According to the WHO, the average density of the health workforce in Southeast Asia
is 4.3 per 1000 population, far less than that of Europe and the United States of American
(US), which are 18.9 and 24.8 per 1000 population respectively [15]. This, unfortunately,
holds across all of the Southeast Asian countries: many, such as Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos
and Cambodia fail to meet the WHO’s “basic” healthcare standard (2.28 skilled health
workers per 1000 population), while Indonesia and Thailand barely reach this target;
Malaysia and Singapore are exceptions to this, however [16]. Rapid but inequitable
socioeconomic development, high population density, shortages in the healthcare workforce,
coupled with enormous cultural diversity, have combined to pose great public health
challenges for the national health systems of the Southeast Asian countries; one of these
being the constant struggle to identify and minimize medication errors [17]. It is reported that
unbalanced staff to patient ratios due to high population growth and shortages in healthcare
professionals leads to long working hours without breaks, multitasking, an uncongenial
environment and sleeplessness, all of which are important causes of skipping or violation of
procedural steps [18].

Next, the other common in incident that related to medication incidence is wrong
dose. Sometime physicians and nurses can be liable for prescribing or administering the
wrong medication. They can simply make a mistake about what medication should be
prescribed or what dosage to prescribe. It can be shockingly easy to administer the wrong
amount of medication. This incidents was reported about 12 006 reports, 1568 described
‘wrong-dose’ errors: 702 (44.8%) were prescribing errors, 223 (14.2%) were dispensing
errors and 643 (41%) were administration errors. Overdoses were reported more frequently
than underdoses. 926 (59%) of reported wrong dose errors were overdoses, 464 (29.6%) were
underdoses; the magnitude could not be determined in 178 (11.4%) of reports. Twofold and
10-fold overdoses and underdoses were the most commonly reported error magnitude,
although dosing errors across a wide range of magnitudes were reported. Incidents were
reported from pediatric wards (491, 31.3%), non-pediatric wards and clinical settings (880,
56.1%) and pharmacy (197, 12.6%). Prescribing errors (702, 45.9%) were reported more
commonly than administration (643, 41%) and dispensing errors (223, 14.2%).
Significant of study

The purpose of this study is to develop a cabinet of medicine tracking and tracing system
using RFID technology that help to management easier and knowing when the expired date
of the medicine. This project is being developed because there are lacks of automation and
automatic system in management of medicine so that medication error can be overcome. This
project also designed for the workers so that the workers do not have to work in manual that
need more time to manage and find the specific medication. This system can overcome
incorrect dose because this system already had the data about the required medicine. Finally,
the system will require the users to login for security so that only the workers only can use it.
Objective

1. To develop a database medicine to store the information and location of the medicine for
tracing purpose.
2. To design a Graphical User Interface (GUI) that integrated with the database system and
RFID system
3. To develop a hardware that can be edit at database and display at computer
4. To perform tag analysis for the suitability by tag

Scope of work

This project is develop by using HR frequency identification. The RFID stickers are
attached to the medicine and the RFID reader that attached to the cabinet. The system will
collect the data from RFID sticker using RFID reader and then fill in the database. The design
of this system used GUI that integrated with the database system and RFID system. The
system also use Microsoft Visual Studio and System User Interface. The system will display
all the data on computer screen.
Methodology

For the project methodology, there are seven steps that are needed to be determine, the first is
literature review, hardware and software identification. Next, to determine the database
graphical user interface between computer and hardware. Other than that, system integration,
system improvement and modification and report writing.
Flowchart

Start

Literature Review and

Searching information

Hardware and Software

identification

Database GUI Design

NO

Run program

YES

Interfacing between
computer and hardware

NO

Testing

YES

System integration

NO

Test System

YES

System improvement and

modification

NO

Test System

YES

Report writing

End
Flowchart Description

1) Literature Review
Literature review was performed to provide an overview about RFID and review the same
topic and application based on project topic. It were designed using several media which
as through book, internet, previous journal, previous thesis and video from YouTube. The
main objective of literature review is to get the idea, information and concept on how to
develop the tracing and tracking systems. It also determine the type of hardware and
software that had been used in order to develop the tracing and tracking systems.

2) Hardware and Software Identification

Based on the idea and concept, the hardware that required will be RFID sticker, HF RFID
reader, Arduino Uno based on ATmega 328pu and cabinet. The RFID sticker will be
attach the medicine and the HF RFID reader will be place at the cabinet. Lastly, for the
software that had been decided to use is Microsoft Excel 2013 and Visual Studio 2015.

3) Database and GUI design

The database that will be use is Microsoft Excel 2013. Then, GUI that will be use is
Visual Studio 2015. The system requirement and specification, the database will be
display the serial number of the sticker RFID, the name of the medicine, the information
about the medicine, manufacture date and expired date. The database was programmed by
using GUI system. The system also need to be access by using a password, so the security
is safe in order to make sure the information of the medicine is confidential.

4) Interfaced Between Computer and Hardware

The connection between hardware and computer is through USB-Serial cable of the
Arduino. The RFID module kit will be connected directly. The converter adaptor cable
used to allow the data sends between RFID module kit, Arduino and computer.
5) System Integration
Both software and hardware were needed to be integrated in order to complete the
integration of the system. This is because to make sure both software and hardware are
functioning well and enable to produce the desired output. It also to make the final testing
and troubleshooting for the overall process to check either both connections were
established or not.

6) System Improvement and Modification

In this stage, the system also will be able to trace and track the medicine by using Internet
of Thing (IoT).
7) Report Writing
After ensuring the system worked well, analysis data was done. Lastly, the documentation
and also preparing presentation were completed.
Expected Result

According to the project research, the project is expected to achieve the objectives and fulfil
the scope of the work in developing the tracing and tracking the medicine and know when the
expired date of the medicine using RFID. The main purpose of this project is develop a
database medicine to store the information and location of the medicine for tracing purpose.
The next purpose to develop a database medicine to store the information and location of the
medicine for tracing purpose. Besides that, the purpose is to design a Graphical user Interface
(GUI) that integrated with the database system and RFID system and finally to develop a
hardware that can be edit at database and display at computer. The other purpose of this
project is to ease for workers to manage and check the information of the medicine just using
app. With this advance system, the medicine error and lack management can be overcome.
The RFID reader will be install at the cabinet and the RFID sticker will be attach at the
medicine. The data of the medicine should be tag first (RFID sticker) before it can be trace by
the system because it is contain importance information of the medicine such as the expired
date, which age can be use it and others. The system will automatically analyze all of the
data. This system will make the doctor or patients received the correct medication within
short time. This system is capable of tracking the location and alert the users when the
expired date of the medicine within the clinic or policlinic area RFID. Therefore it can
support worker to arrange and find medicine in the cabinet so that time taken takes are less.
Gant Chart

No. Activities Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
2019 2019 2019 2020 2020 2020 2020 2020 2020
1 Literature
Review
2 Hardware and
Software
Identification
3 Database GUI
design
4 Interface
between
Computer and
Hardware
5 System
Integration
6 System
Improvement and
Modification
7 Presentation and
Report Writing

Semester Break
Reference

[1] Robert C.M. “Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)”. Computing &Security, 2006, Vol
25, Issue 1, Page 18-26.

[2] Wheeler AJ, Scahill S, Hopcroft D and Stapleton H. “Reducing medication errors at
transitions of care is everyone's business”. Aust Prescr. 2018 Jun;41(3):73-77.

[3] Whittaker CF, Miklich MA, Patel RS and Fink JC. “Medication Safety Principles and
Practice in CKD”. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol, 2018 Nov 07;13(11):1738-1746.

[4] Dr Milton Lum. “Death by medication”. The Star Malaysia, 19 Feb 2017.

[5] Martín López-Nores, José J. Pazos-Arias, Jorge García-Duque and Yolanda Blanco-
Fernández, “Monitoring Medicine Intake in the Networked Home: The iCabiNET Solution”
2008 Second International Conference on Pervasive Computing Technologies for Healthcare.

[6] Jyothi K Vinjumur, Eric Becker, Shahina Ferdous, Georgios Galatas and Fillia Makedon.
“Web Based Medicine Intake Tracking Application”. PETRA'10, June 23 - 25, 2010.

[7] Jianying Feng, Zetian Fu, Zaiqiong Wang, Mark Xu and Xiaoshuan Zhang.
“Development and evaluation on a RFID-based traceability system for cattle/beef quality
safety in China”. ELSEVIER (2013), Chapter 31, Food Control, page 314-325.

[8] Hariz Krasniqi. “File Tracking System”. The Requirement for the Degree of Bachelor of
Science, May 2013, the Faculty of Architecture and Engineering, Epoka University.

[9] Qiao Jiang and Junming Xu. “Design of Smart Medicine Cabinet Based on STM32F107
and Network”. Applied Mechanics and Materials, 2015, Vols. 719-720, page 567-572

[10] US Food and Drug Administration. Medication Errors; US Department of Health and
Human Services. 21 May 2015. Available:
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/MedicationErrors/default.htm. Accessed 28 June
2015.

[11] Kohn LT, Corrigan JM, Donaldson MS, Committee on Quality of Health Care in
America, Institute of Medicine. To err is human: building a safer health system (Vol. 6).
Washington: National Academy Press, 2000.
[12] United Nations Statistic Division. Composition of macro geographical (continental)
regions, geographical sub-regions, and selected economic and other groupings. Available:
http://unstats.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49regin.htm#asia.

[13] United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. World Population
Prospects: The 2012 Revision. Available: http://esa.un.org/wpp/Excel-Data/population.htm.
Accessed 13 March 2015.

[14] Shahrzad Salmasi, Tahir Mehmood Khan, Yet Hoi Hong, Long Chiau Ming and Tin
Wui Wong, Medication Errors in the Southeast Asian Countries: A Systematic Review,
PLOS ONE, September 4, 2015.

[15] World Health Organization. Health workers: a global profile. In The world health report
2006- working together for health; 2006. Available:
www.who.int/whr/2006/06_chap1_en.pdf.

[16] Chongsuvivatwong V, Phua KH, Yap MT, Pocock NS, Hashim JH, Chhem R, et al.
Health and healthcare systems in Southeast Asia: diversity and transitions. Lancet. 2011;
377:429–437. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(10)61507-3 PMID: 21269685

[17] Gautam PL. Minimizing medication errors: Moving attention from individual to system.
J Anaesth. 2013; 29: 293–294.

[18] Hashim J, Chongsuvivatwong V, Phua KH, Pocock N, Teng YM, Chhem RK, et al.
Health and healthcare systems in Southeast Asia. 04 May 2012. Available:
http://unu.edu/publications/articles/healthand-healthcare-systems-in-southeast-asia.html.