| 1. |
- Funestrand, Henrik, et al.
(författare)
-
Substandard and falsified medical products are a global public health threat. A pilot survey of awareness among physicians in Sweden
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Journal of Public Health. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1741-3850 .- 1741-3842. ; 41:1, s. 95-102
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundSubstandard and falsified medical products are a public health threat, primarily associated with low- and middle-income countries. Today, the phenomenon also exists in high-income countries. Increased Internet access has opened a global market. Self-diagnosis and self-prescription have boosted the market for unregulated websites with access to falsified medicines.AimTo describe the state of knowledge and experience on SF medical products among emergency physicians (EPs) and general practitioners (GPs) in Sweden.MethodsAn online survey with anonymous answers from 100 EPs and 100 GPs. Physicians were recruited from TNS SIFO’s medical database. The term in the survey was ‘illegal and falsified medicines’ which was common in Sweden at that time. It corresponds well with the term ‘substandard and falsified medical products’ that the WHO launched shortly after our data collection. We report our results with this term.ResultsIn Sweden, 78.5% of the physicians had heard the term ‘illegal and falsified medicines’ and 36.5% had met patients they suspected had taken it. Physicians lacked awareness of the use of the reporting system and wanted more knowledge about how to deal with patients who have possibly used falsified medicines.ConclusionsTo meet the public health threat of SF medical products, physicians need more knowledge.
|
|
| 2. |
- Lundin, Susanne, et al.
(författare)
-
“Where and how do you buy medicines?” A pilot survey of consumption strategies among the public in Sweden
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Journal of Public Health. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1741-3850 .- 1741-3842.
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Substandard and falsified (SF) medical products are a major danger to public health. They affect every region of the world, and have been identified in all major therapeutic categories. Studies from medicine, pharmacology, law and public health dominate this research area with a focus on the supply side. However, the spread of SF medical products cannot be fully understood without information about the demand side or a sociocultural perspective on market formation. The aim of this short report is to present findings from a pilot study that examines the attitudes of the Swedish public regarding consumption of medicines. Methods: We conducted a pilot survey in 2016 “Where and how do you buy medicines?” using LimeSurvey, an open-source online survey software. In total 155 respondents completed the survey. Results: The majority of respondents turn to doctors within healthcare for prescription-only medicines (POM). Simultaneously, some respondents would consider buying POMs without prior contact with experts even if medicines may come from unsafe sources.Conclusions: There is a tendency that people move away from formal healthcare towards an unregulated market. In parallel, people's approach to doctors becomes more personalized and pragmatic than in former patriarchal relationships. Risk becomes a negotiable concept.Keywords: Substandard and falsified medical products, consumption strategies, conception of risk, Swedish public
|
|
