<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<sec><h3>Background</h3><p>The incidence of drug shortages has surged in recent years and it poses a major threat to public health worldwide. It can also downgrade the quality of care provided to patients. Data concerning shortages pertinent to mental health care are scarce, while treatment continuity is vital to avert disease recurrence and deterioration of patients’ mental health.</p></sec>
<sec><h3>Objective</h3><p>The scope of this study is to elucidate the attitudes and perceptions of mental health professionals regarding drug shortages in Cyprus in a tertiary health institute, through a specially designed questionnaire.</p></sec>
<sec><h3>Results</h3><p>The most frequently reported effects of psychiatric drug shortages were the impaired efficacy of the alternative therapeutic regimen, re-admission of patients, delays in care provision and increased frequency of adverse events. Concerning the loss of working hours in managing drug shortages, the majority responded that they dedicate 1 to 5 working hours to this per week. Informing the patient about alternative medication and the ongoing shortages were the first strategies to minimise the effects of shortages, as attested by 74% and 72% of responders, respectively. The proposed solutions for drug shortages included thorough investigation of the root causes, the elaboration of an e-based database, drawing up a national annual report and assuming legal responsibility of pharmaceutical companies. Drug shortages constitute an important burden in the field of mental health care in Cyprus. Given the serious impact of the problem and the externalities of mental health disorders, appropriate measures must be swiftly taken to ensure timely and effective administration of the appropriate therapeutic regimen.</p></sec>
</abstract>

BackgroundThe incidence of drug shortages has surged in recent years and it poses a major threat to public health worldwide. It can also downgrade the quality of care provided to patients. Data concerning shortages pertinent to mental health care are scarce, while treatment continuity is vital to avert disease recurrence and deterioration of patients’ mental health.
ObjectiveThe scope of this study is to elucidate the attitudes and perceptions of mental health professionals regarding drug shortages in Cyprus in a tertiary health institute, through a specially designed questionnaire.
ResultsThe most frequently reported effects of psychiatric drug shortages were the impaired efficacy of the alternative therapeutic regimen, re-admission of patients, delays in care provision and increased frequency of adverse events. Concerning the loss of working hours in managing drug shortages, the majority responded that they dedicate 1 to 5 working hours to this per week. Informing the patient about alternative medication and the ongoing shortages were the first strategies to minimise the effects of shortages, as attested by 74% and 72% of responders, respectively. The proposed solutions for drug shortages included thorough investigation of the root causes, the elaboration of an e-based database, drawing up a national annual report and assuming legal responsibility of pharmaceutical companies. Drug shortages constitute an important burden in the field of mental health care in Cyprus. Given the serious impact of the problem and the externalities of mental health disorders, appropriate measures must be swiftly taken to ensure timely and effective administration of the appropriate therapeutic regimen.

Shortages of medicines in a psychiatric hospital in Cyprus

Pharmacoepidemiology-Pharmacovigilance, Pharmacy School, School of Sciences and Engineering

European Pharmaceutical Journal

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Shortages of medicines in a psychiatric hospital in Cyprus"}

BackgroundThe incidence of drug shortages has surged in recent years and it poses a major threat to public health worldwide. It can also downgrade the quality...

Shortages of medicines in a psychiatric hospital in Cyprus

Article Category: Original Paper

Data publikacji: 13 maj 2022

Zakres stron: 9 - 15

Otrzymano: 19 sty 2021

Przyjęty: 17 wrz 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/afpuc-2021-0014

Słowa kluczowe
medicine shortages, Cyprus, mental health

© 2022 Petrou P. et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Shortages of medicines in a psychiatric hospital in Cyprus

Article Category: Original Paper

Data publikacji: 13 maj 2022

Zakres stron: 9 - 15

Otrzymano: 19 sty 2021

Przyjęty: 17 wrz 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/afpuc-2021-0014

Słowa kluczowemedicine shortages, Cyprus, mental health

© 2022 Petrou P. et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Słowa kluczowe
medicine shortages, Cyprus, mental health