Access to medications in the community by patients in a palliative setting. A systems analysis.
This study performed a systems analysis of the process by which patients under the care of a specialist palliative home care obtained medications, and highlighted factors that delay this process. Systems analysis is the science dealing with analysis of complex, large-scale systems and the interactions within those systems. This study used a mixed-methods approach of questionnaires of general practitioners, pharmacists and patients, and a prospective observational study of delays experienced by patients referred to the home care team over a three-month period. This study found the main factors causing delay to be: medications not being in stock in pharmacies, medications not being available on state reimbursed schemes and inability of patients and carers to courier medications.
Lucey
M
M
St Francis Hospice, Raheny, Dublin, Ireland. lucey_mike@hotmail.com
McQuillan
R
R
MacCallion
A
A
Corrigan
M
M
Flynn
J
J
Connaire
K
K
D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000592:standards / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D013597:Systems Analysis; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*
D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations