Understanding, readiness, and response of healthcare professionals in combating falsified medical products in Eritrea: a population-based survey
Background: The circulation of falsified medical products is a global threat and is expected to be higher in low- and middle-income countries. Objective: This study was conducted to assess the understanding, readiness, and response of Eritrea’s healthcare professionals (HCPs), and identify potential...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/20420986231213713 |
| _version_ | 1797389218976104448 |
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| author | Yodit Fitsum Azania Werede Abubeker Mahmud Saleh Eyasu H. Tesfamariam Francis Magombo Freminatos Misghina Hermella Yemane Iyassu Bahta Liya Abraham Merhawi Bahta Merhawi Debesai Meron Tesfagaber Michael Ghirmai Sirak Tesfamariam Mulugeta Russom |
| author_facet | Yodit Fitsum Azania Werede Abubeker Mahmud Saleh Eyasu H. Tesfamariam Francis Magombo Freminatos Misghina Hermella Yemane Iyassu Bahta Liya Abraham Merhawi Bahta Merhawi Debesai Meron Tesfagaber Michael Ghirmai Sirak Tesfamariam Mulugeta Russom |
| author_sort | Yodit Fitsum |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The circulation of falsified medical products is a global threat and is expected to be higher in low- and middle-income countries. Objective: This study was conducted to assess the understanding, readiness, and response of Eritrea’s healthcare professionals (HCPs), and identify potential areas of intervention to combat circulation of falsified medical products. Design: This was a nationwide population-based cross-sectional survey, conducted in December 2021. Methods: This study enrolled representative samples of HCPs working in public and private health facilities. Two-stage stratified cluster sampling was used to select study participants and data were collected through face-to-face interviews. Descriptive statistics, Mann–Whitney U test, Kruskal–Wallis test along with their post hoc tests, Jonckheere-Terpstra, and logistic regression analyses were performed as appropriate. Results: The study enrolled 707 HCPs, and 96.6% were successfully surveyed. The majority of the participants (62.5%) encountered products with suspected quality defects and 63.8% claimed that they had reported the incident(s) at least once. About 85% reported that complaints should be submitted to the Eritrean Pharmacovigilance Centre and 74.0% indicated that it should be reported at the earliest time possible even if the reporter lacks details. The standard reporting form for suspected product quality issues was correctly recognized by 13.8%. Overall, the median knowledge and attitude scores were found to be 9 out of 17 (interquartile range, IQR: 4.0) and 30 out of 35 (IQR: 4.0), respectively. Not knowing how to report (55.6%) and what to report (34.9%), no/delayed feedback from the regulatory authority (30.0%), and unavailability of reporting forms (29.0%) were the frequently reported barriers to reporting. In addition, profession ( p = 0.027), no/delayed feedback (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 4.70; 95% CI: 2.17–10.18; p < 0.001), and not knowing how to report (AOR: 0.12; 95% CI: 0.05–0.28; p < 0.001) were found to be determinants of reporting suspected product quality defects. Conclusion: The readiness and response of Eritrea’s HCPs in detecting and reporting falsified medical products seems promising, although a significant knowledge gap was observed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T22:52:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-92a045fdd0f743a082bdad9ddf3c3384 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2042-0994 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T22:52:41Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety |
| spelling | doaj.art-92a045fdd0f743a082bdad9ddf3c33842023-12-16T10:04:11ZengSAGE PublishingTherapeutic Advances in Drug Safety2042-09942023-12-011410.1177/20420986231213713Understanding, readiness, and response of healthcare professionals in combating falsified medical products in Eritrea: a population-based surveyYodit FitsumAzania WeredeAbubeker Mahmud SalehEyasu H. TesfamariamFrancis MagomboFreminatos MisghinaHermella YemaneIyassu BahtaLiya AbrahamMerhawi BahtaMerhawi DebesaiMeron TesfagaberMichael GhirmaiSirak TesfamariamMulugeta RussomBackground: The circulation of falsified medical products is a global threat and is expected to be higher in low- and middle-income countries. Objective: This study was conducted to assess the understanding, readiness, and response of Eritrea’s healthcare professionals (HCPs), and identify potential areas of intervention to combat circulation of falsified medical products. Design: This was a nationwide population-based cross-sectional survey, conducted in December 2021. Methods: This study enrolled representative samples of HCPs working in public and private health facilities. Two-stage stratified cluster sampling was used to select study participants and data were collected through face-to-face interviews. Descriptive statistics, Mann–Whitney U test, Kruskal–Wallis test along with their post hoc tests, Jonckheere-Terpstra, and logistic regression analyses were performed as appropriate. Results: The study enrolled 707 HCPs, and 96.6% were successfully surveyed. The majority of the participants (62.5%) encountered products with suspected quality defects and 63.8% claimed that they had reported the incident(s) at least once. About 85% reported that complaints should be submitted to the Eritrean Pharmacovigilance Centre and 74.0% indicated that it should be reported at the earliest time possible even if the reporter lacks details. The standard reporting form for suspected product quality issues was correctly recognized by 13.8%. Overall, the median knowledge and attitude scores were found to be 9 out of 17 (interquartile range, IQR: 4.0) and 30 out of 35 (IQR: 4.0), respectively. Not knowing how to report (55.6%) and what to report (34.9%), no/delayed feedback from the regulatory authority (30.0%), and unavailability of reporting forms (29.0%) were the frequently reported barriers to reporting. In addition, profession ( p = 0.027), no/delayed feedback (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 4.70; 95% CI: 2.17–10.18; p < 0.001), and not knowing how to report (AOR: 0.12; 95% CI: 0.05–0.28; p < 0.001) were found to be determinants of reporting suspected product quality defects. Conclusion: The readiness and response of Eritrea’s HCPs in detecting and reporting falsified medical products seems promising, although a significant knowledge gap was observed.https://doi.org/10.1177/20420986231213713 |
| spellingShingle | Yodit Fitsum Azania Werede Abubeker Mahmud Saleh Eyasu H. Tesfamariam Francis Magombo Freminatos Misghina Hermella Yemane Iyassu Bahta Liya Abraham Merhawi Bahta Merhawi Debesai Meron Tesfagaber Michael Ghirmai Sirak Tesfamariam Mulugeta Russom Understanding, readiness, and response of healthcare professionals in combating falsified medical products in Eritrea: a population-based survey Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety |
| title | Understanding, readiness, and response of healthcare professionals in combating falsified medical products in Eritrea: a population-based survey |
| title_full | Understanding, readiness, and response of healthcare professionals in combating falsified medical products in Eritrea: a population-based survey |
| title_fullStr | Understanding, readiness, and response of healthcare professionals in combating falsified medical products in Eritrea: a population-based survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding, readiness, and response of healthcare professionals in combating falsified medical products in Eritrea: a population-based survey |
| title_short | Understanding, readiness, and response of healthcare professionals in combating falsified medical products in Eritrea: a population-based survey |
| title_sort | understanding readiness and response of healthcare professionals in combating falsified medical products in eritrea a population based survey |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/20420986231213713 |
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