Pregled stanja in mnenja ključnih deležnikov o lekarniških avtomatih v Sloveniji

Krmac, Marko (author), Horvat, Nejc (mentor), Jazbar, Janja (co-mentor)

Lekarniški prodajni avtomati so v zadnjih letih postali vse bolj razširjeni in predstavljajo dodatno možnost prodaje in dostopa do lekarniških izdelkov, saj praviloma omogočajo hitrejšo storitev, ki je dostopna 24 ur na dan vse dni v tednu, in hkrati anonimnost nakupa. V nekaterih državah se prek njih prodajajo tudi zdravila. Namen magistrske naloge je bil narediti pregled nad stanjem lekarniških prodajnih avtomatov v Sloveniji ter v zvezi z njimi pridobiti vpogled v stališča ključnih deležnikov do prednosti in slabosti s posebnim poudarkom na možnosti izdaje zdravil prek njih. V okviru raziskave smo izvedli devet intervjujev, ki so vključevali tri lekarniške farmacevte, dva predstavnika regulatornih organov, farmacevtskih društev in sindikatov ter štiri uporabnike lekarniških storitev. Dodatne udeležence smo vključevali do nasičenja pridobljenih informacij. Od intervjuvancev smo želeli izvedeti, kakšne izkušnje imajo z lekarniškimi prodajnimi avtomati, kakšno je njihovo splošno mnenje o njih, v čem vidijo njihove prednosti in slabosti, prav tako pa smo želeli pridobiti njihovo podrobnejše mnenje o možnosti izdaje zdravil prek takih avtomatov. Intervjuje smo posneli, transkribirali ter jih kvalitativno analizirali v programu NVivo 11 Pro. Na podlagi intervjujev smo kodirali zapise ter jih razdelili na teme in podteme. Pozitivni pogled udeležencev na uporabo lekarniških prodajnih avtomatov in nakup zdravil prek njih je bil največkrat povezan s hitrejšo storitvijo in možnostjo dostopa do izdelkov in zdravil 24 ur na dan vse dni v letu. Pogosto se je omenjala tudi razbremenitev farmacevta in možnost posvetitve časa drugim zadolžitvam. Negativni pogled udeležencev se je najpogosteje kazal v možnosti zlorabe ali nepravilne rabe zdravil, pridobljenih prek lekarniških prodajnih avtomatov, ter v s tem povezanih tveganjih za neželene učinke ali interakcije zaradi odsotnosti svetovanja, pri čemer so deležniki farmacevtske stroke ta vidik pogosto močneje izrazili kot deležniki iz vrst uporabnikov. Pogosto je bila omenjena tudi nevarnost vandaliziranja, približno enako zastopana tako med deležniki iz vrst stroke kot tudi uporabnikov. Intervjuvani deležniki so v splošnem izrazili več pomislekov glede izdaje zdravil prek lekarniških prodajnih avtomatov kot pa potencialnih prednosti ter se strinjali, da je pred tovrstnim korakom potrebna stroga regulacija. Ker gre tako v Sloveniji kakor tudi v evropskem in svetovnem merilu za novejši način izdaje zdravil, menimo, da je izrednega pomena podrobnejša analiza posamičnih negativnih vidikov ter preučitev razmerja med koristjo in tveganji izdaje zdravil prek lekarniških prodajnih avtomatov.

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: lekarniški prodajni avtomat, lekomat, dostopnost zdravil, lekarna, intervju
• Work type: Master's thesis/paper
• Organization: FFA - Faculty of Pharmacy
• Year: 2024
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-153450
• Publication date in RUL: 06.01.2024

Secondary language

• Language: English
• Title: Pharmacy vending machines in Slovenia: Current state of affairs and key stakeholders' opinions

Abstract

Pharmacy vending machines have become widespread in the last years and represent an additional way of selling pharmacy products, as they generally enable a fast and anonymous 24/7 service. In some countries, they are also used to sell medicines. The purpose of this master's thesis was to make an overview of the state of pharmacy vending machines in Slovenia and to obtain key stakeholders' insight into their advantages and disadvantages, with special emphasis on dispensing medicines. We conducted 9 interviews with key stakeholders, that included 3 MPharm’s, 2 representatives of regulatory bodies and pharmaceutical societies and trade unions, and 4 patients. Interviewees were included until saturation of the obtained information occurred. We wanted to find out interviewees' experiences with pharmacy vending machines, what their general opinion about them was, their advantages and disadvantages, and a more detailed opinion on dispensing medicines. The interviews were recorded and transcripts were prepared. The obtained data were qualitatively analyzed with the NVivo 11 Pro software. Records were coded and divided into themes and sub-themes. Participants' positive views on pharmacy vending machines and the purchase of medicines via them were most often associated with a faster service and the possibility of 24/7 access. Relieving the workload of pharmacists who could devote time to other duties was also often mentioned. Participants’ negative views were most often reflected in potential medicine abuse or misuse of medicines, and the related risks of side effects or interactions due to the absence of pharmaceutical consultation, with stakeholders from the pharmaceutical profession often expressing this aspect more strongly than stakeholders from the patient category. The danger of vandalizing was also often mentioned, approximately equally represented among stakeholders. In general, stakeholders expressed more concerns about the dispensing of medicines via pharmacy vending machines than potential advantages, and agreed that strict regulation is necessary before such a step. Given that in Slovenia and both on a European and global scale this is a rather new method of dispensing medicines, we believe that a more detailed analysis of individual negative aspects and the benefit-risk ratio of dispensing medicines via pharmacy vending machines is needed. Last but not least, we believe that the inclusion of all key stakeholders is also essential when preparing possible changes in legislation.

• Keywords: pharmacy vending machine, medicine vending machine, drug vending machine, access to medicines