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Managing medicine shortages in community pharmacies: a simulated patient mixed-method study
Hege Sletvold1, Madeleine Strøm2, Tonje Krogstad3
1Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Nord University, Stjordal, Norway.
The International Journal of Pharmacy Practice
|July 4, 2026
Summary
Pharmacists partially followed medicine shortage management standards but communication with patients was inadequate. Improving awareness of guidelines and patient-centered communication is crucial for safe medication access.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacy Practice
- Patient Safety
- Medication Management
Background:
- Global medicine shortages pose significant challenges to patient outcomes and pharmacy operations.
- Effective management of drug shortages is critical to mitigate financial, time, and safety risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- Evaluate adherence to a pharmacy practice standard for managing medicine shortages.
- Assess the quality of pharmacist-patient communication during medication shortages.
- Explore pharmacists' perspectives on shortage management following feedback.
Main Methods:
- Mixed-methods study utilizing simulated patient visits and qualitative interviews.
- 46 community pharmacies in Norway assessed for management of ranitidine and varenicline shortages.
- Audio-recorded consultations and interviews analyzed using deductive and inductive content analysis.
Main Results:
- Pharmacists frequently checked for alternative medications (83.7% in-house, 88.4% nearby) and considered prescriber contact (81.4%).
- Few pharmacists assessed patient's remaining supply (7.0%), and none provided written information.
- Communication regarding shortage causes (76.7%) and duration (97.7%) was common, but overall communication was inadequate.
Conclusions:
- Adherence to some aspects of the medicine shortage management standard was observed, yet significant gaps persist.
- Patient-centered communication and consistent implementation of management strategies require improvement.
- Enhanced awareness of practice standards and communication skills are essential for safe and equitable patient care during shortages.
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