Factors affecting the patient journey and patient care when receiving an unlicensed medicine: A systematic review
Factors affecting the patient journey and patient care when receiving an unlicensed medicine: A systematic review.
Alesha Wale a, Zoe Young b, Wenjuan Zhang a, Sarah Hiom c, Haroon Ahmed d, Rowan Yemm a, Efi Mantzourani a
a Cardiff School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
b University Library Services, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
c Research and Development, St Mary's Pharmaceutical Unit, Cardiff, Wales, UK
d Division of Population Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
Received 8 February 2023, Revised 19 April 2023, Accepted 19 April 2023, Available online 20 April 2023, Version of Record 16 May 2023.
Abstract
Background
Unlicensed medicines are used across the UK to treat an individual's clinical needs when there are no appropriate licensed alternatives. Patients, carers and parents have reported facing challenges with unlicensed medicines at the points of transfer of care between settings, a key time when medication errors may occur. There is little known about the patient journey as a whole, or the factors affecting patient care when receiving an unlicensed medicine.
Objective
A systematic review of UK literature to better understand factors that affect the entire patient journey from the decision to initiate treatment with an unlicensed medicine to the point at which treatment is supplied through a community pharmacy or ends.