Tackling Drug Shortages: An In-Depth Systematic Review Protocol
Main Article Content
Keywords
Drug, medicine shortages, Protocol, Systematic , Review
Abstract
Addressing global drug shortages demands proactive measures. Enhanced reporting, supply chain policies, and quality systems are crucial to minimize it. Notably, there’s a lack of systematic review on the reasons of drug shortage. To fill this gap, our study will adhere to PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews, conducting a thorough literature search across various databases using specific descriptors related to drug shortages. Articles will be screened for relevance, with eligibility assessed by two independent reviewers and disagreements resolved through consensus. Duplicates will be removed, and data will be extracted using a standardized form. Quality assessment will employ the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool, with appraisals conducted independently by two reviewers and discrepancies resolved through consensus. A narrative synthesis approach will be used to synthesize findings, initially presenting results in tabular form before discussing and structuring them into themes. Drug shortages are caused by a range of factors, including issues with drug supply, demand, and regulatory challenges. These factors interact in complex ways, requiring comprehensive solutions to effectively address the scarcity of medicines.
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