Medicines shortages and the perception of healthcare professionals working in hospitals: An Italian case study

Background: The medicines’ shortage has arisen as a global crisis, which jeopardizes the continuity of care and overloads pharmacists and healthcare professionals. Purpose: The paper aims 1) to determine the therapeutic classes mostly affected by shortages in pre-COVID scenario and investigate their impact; 2) to collect the perception of physicians and nurses on shortages to assess the effect on clinical practice and to improve interprofessional collaboration. Methods: A 16-question survey developed by hospital pharmacists was administered to physicians and nurses at Presidio Ospedaliero Luigi Sacco in Milan (Italy). Discussion: A total of 148 medicinal products were reported as unavailable by 58 interviewees. Since in 66% of cases therapeutic alternatives were available, healthcare professionals did not perceive them as so critical since effect on patients can be mitigate by effective interprofessional collaboration. Conclusion: Risk assessment and management of shortages should be based on a bottom-up approach that takes in consideration the ward operability and the perception of healthcare professionals.