Perceptions of Egyptian physicians about drug shortage during political disturbances: Survey in Greater Cairo

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• 作者：Ammar A. Abdelrahman<sup>asup><sup> ; sup><sup>ammar.mohamed@pharma.cu.edu.eg" class="auth_mail" title="E-mail the corresponding authorsup> ; Amr A. Saad<sup>bsup> ; Nirmeen A. Sabry<sup>asup> ; Samar F. Farid<sup>asup>
• 关键词：Healthcare services research ; Healthcare personnel ; Drug shortage ; Survey ; Developing country
• 刊名：Bulletin of Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University
• 出版年：2016
• 出版时间：December 2016
• 年：2016
• 卷：54
• 期：2
• 页码：191-196
• 全文大小：427 K

文摘

Drug shortage is a problem that entangles health systems. In Egypt, many complaints arose due to drug shortage in the period following the 25<sup>thsup> January revolution. Physicians play a vital role in dealing with this crisis.

sSec_2">Objectives

sp0010">Our aim was to investigate physicians&rsquo; perspective of the drug shortage problem and its impact on the healthcare system.

sSec_3">Methods

sp0015">A questionnaire was adopted and distributed by hand to physicians in customers&rsquo; waiting areas in Medical Syndicates Union. The questionnaire covered general participant information, drug shortage effects, physicians&rsquo; responses to the problem, the magnitude of the problem and its development three years around the revolution.

sSec_4">Results

sp0020">Of the 319 distributed questionnaires, 192 responses were valid with a response rate of 60%. Most of participants expressed the dire impact of drug shortage on patients&rsquo; health. Death as a result of drug shortage was reported by 67 physicians &minus;35% of participants. A significant difference between internal medicine specialists and surgical medicine specialists in perception of drug related deaths was found (p-value = 0.004). A significant negative correlation between number of years of experience and agreement to analogues therapeutic equivalency was found (Spearman&rsquo;s correlation coefficient = &minus;0.207, P-value = 0.006). About two thirds of participants viewed drug shortages as a cause of inter-professional conflicts. Generally, participants denoted that drug shortage problem is worsening with time since the revolution.

sSec_5">Conclusion

sp0025">Prospective studies are required to quantitatively estimate drug shortage related mortality. Enhanced drug shortage communication by drug authorities and targeted education may relieve inter-professional conflicts resulting from drug shortages.