Table 1.
Interviewees' hospital characteristics.
| Hospital characteristics; Median [IQR] | n (%) (N = 14)* |
|---|---|
| Number of hospital beds; 700 [300–1,700] | |
| <500 | 7 (50%) |
| 500–1,000 | 0 |
| 1,000–1,500 | 3 (21.4%) |
| 1,500–2,000 | 3 (21.4%) |
| >2,000 | 1 (7.1%) |
| Shortage frequency in last week; 2.50 [1–5] | |
| 1 | 4 (28.6%) |
| 2 | 3 (21.4%) |
| 3 | 3 (21.4%) |
| 5 | 2 (14.3%) |
| ≥10 | 2 (14.3%) |
| Type of shortages (demand or supply related) | |
| All supply | 4 (28.6%) |
| Mostly supply | 8 (58.1%) |
| Supply and demand | 2 (14.3%) |
| Use of more expensive alternatives | |
| Never | 0 |
| Rarely | 2 (14.3%) |
| Sometimes | 5 (35.7%) |
| Often | 3 (21.4%) |
| Very often | 4 (28.6%) |
| Off-label use of alternatives | |
| Never | 1 (7.1%) |
| Rarely | 3 (21.4%) |
| Sometimes | 7 (50%) |
| Often | 1 (7.1%) |
| Very often | 2 (14.3%) |
*
Three hospital pharmacists worked for national health authorities, not in hospitals. One pharmacologist worked in academia and healthcare certification agency.