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Alternative mechanisms for delivery of medication in South Africa: A scoping review

BACKGROUND: The number of people in South Africa with chronic conditions is a challenge to the health system. In response to the coronavirus infection, health services in Cape Town introduced home delivery of medication by community health workers. In planning for the future, they requested a scopin...

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Autores principales: Mash, Robert, Christian, Carmen, Chigwanda, Ruvimbo V.
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: AOSIS 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8424755/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34476963
http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/safp.v63i1.5274
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author Mash, Robert
Christian, Carmen
Chigwanda, Ruvimbo V.
author_facet Mash, Robert
Christian, Carmen
Chigwanda, Ruvimbo V.
author_sort Mash, Robert
collection PubMed
description BACKGROUND: The number of people in South Africa with chronic conditions is a challenge to the health system. In response to the coronavirus infection, health services in Cape Town introduced home delivery of medication by community health workers. In planning for the future, they requested a scoping review of alternative mechanisms for delivery of medication to patients in primary health care in South Africa. METHODS: Databases were systematically searched using a comprehensive search strategy to identify studies from the last 10 years. A methodological guideline for conducting scoping reviews was followed. A standardised template was used to extract data and compare study characteristics and findings. Data was analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively. RESULTS: A total of 4253 publications were identified and 26 included. Most publications were from the last 5 years (n = 21), research (n = 24), Western Cape (n = 15) and focused on adherence clubs (n = 17), alternative pick-up-points (n = 14), home delivery (n = 5) and HIV (n = 17). The majority of alternative mechanisms were supported by a centralised dispensing and packaging system. New technology such as smart lockers and automated pharmacy dispensing units have been piloted. Patients benefited from these alternatives and had improved adherence. Available evidence suggests alternative mechanisms were cheaper and more beneficial than attending the facility to collect medication. CONCLUSION: A mix of options tailored to the local context and patient choice that can be adequately managed by the system would be ideal. More economic evaluations are required of the alternatives, particularly before going to scale and for newer technology.
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spelling pubmed-84247552021-09-13 Alternative mechanisms for delivery of medication in South Africa: A scoping review Mash, Robert Christian, Carmen Chigwanda, Ruvimbo V. S Afr Fam Pract (2004) Original Research BACKGROUND: The number of people in South Africa with chronic conditions is a challenge to the health system. In response to the coronavirus infection, health services in Cape Town introduced home delivery of medication by community health workers. In planning for the future, they requested a scoping review of alternative mechanisms for delivery of medication to patients in primary health care in South Africa. METHODS: Databases were systematically searched using a comprehensive search strategy to identify studies from the last 10 years. A methodological guideline for conducting scoping reviews was followed. A standardised template was used to extract data and compare study characteristics and findings. Data was analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively. RESULTS: A total of 4253 publications were identified and 26 included. Most publications were from the last 5 years (n = 21), research (n = 24), Western Cape (n = 15) and focused on adherence clubs (n = 17), alternative pick-up-points (n = 14), home delivery (n = 5) and HIV (n = 17). The majority of alternative mechanisms were supported by a centralised dispensing and packaging system. New technology such as smart lockers and automated pharmacy dispensing units have been piloted. Patients benefited from these alternatives and had improved adherence. Available evidence suggests alternative mechanisms were cheaper and more beneficial than attending the facility to collect medication. CONCLUSION: A mix of options tailored to the local context and patient choice that can be adequately managed by the system would be ideal. More economic evaluations are required of the alternatives, particularly before going to scale and for newer technology. AOSIS 2021-08-24 /pmc/articles/PMC8424755/ /pubmed/34476963 http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/safp.v63i1.5274 Text en © 2021. The Authors https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Licensee: AOSIS. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.
spellingShingle Original Research
Mash, Robert
Christian, Carmen
Chigwanda, Ruvimbo V.
Alternative mechanisms for delivery of medication in South Africa: A scoping review
title Alternative mechanisms for delivery of medication in South Africa: A scoping review
title_full Alternative mechanisms for delivery of medication in South Africa: A scoping review
title_fullStr Alternative mechanisms for delivery of medication in South Africa: A scoping review
title_full_unstemmed Alternative mechanisms for delivery of medication in South Africa: A scoping review
title_short Alternative mechanisms for delivery of medication in South Africa: A scoping review
title_sort alternative mechanisms for delivery of medication in south africa: a scoping review
topic Original Research
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8424755/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34476963
http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/safp.v63i1.5274
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