Browsing by Author "Lamprecht, Izak van Biljon"
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- ItemAn investigation into the prospects of existing technologies to address the challenges faced in pharmacovigilance systems(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2018-12) Lamprecht, Izak van Biljon; Bam, Louzanne; De Kock, Imke; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Industrial Engineering.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Healthcare systems, especially those within resource-limited countries, are facing increasing pressures, which can, in part, be attributed to the struggles of balancing resource inventories, while still providing clinical care of high quality. Pharmacovigilance (PV), a system developed to ensure universal drug safety, constitutes one component of healthcare systems globally. PV systems in resource-limited countries are struggling to operate both efficiently and effectively, while continuously maintaining and ensuring universal drug safety. These PV systems are burdened by the lack of expertise and knowledge to (i) prioritise the challenges faced daily; (ii) identify the root causes of these challenges; and (iii) determine how these root causes of the challenges can be addressed by technology. In this research, these three requirements are addressed. First, a systematic review is conducted to identify 15 challenges that are experienced in PV systems, especially those in resource-limited countries. These 15 challenges (referred to as the PV challenge landscape in this research) are prioritised with the use of: a PV system and PV challenge landscape matrix developed in this research and input from several subject matter experts. Seven challenges are regarded as priority, namely: culture, partnerships, transparency, insufficient resources, country-specific factors, technical capacity, and adverse drug-reaction under-reporting. Second, an investigation into several translation techniques is conducted in order to determine which technique(s) is appropriate to be used to translate these challenges from a strategic to an operational level, and to identify the root causes of the challenges. The value chain analysis and the 5Why method, in combination with fishbone diagrams, are considered to be appropriate techniques. Following the implementation of these techniques, the identified root causes are once again prioritised based on inputs from SMEs in order to maintain focus on the root causes that have the most significant impact on PV systems whilst ensuring that the scope of the research remains feasible. It is concluded that 14 of the identified root causes should be prioritised for further investigation in this research. Third, literature is reviewed to identify an appropriate technology selection framework that can be used to assess the technology landscape with regards to it being implemented in PV to address the root causes identified in this research. The technology selection framework developed by Chan & Kaufman (2010) is considered an appropriate framework, since it incorporates many elements one can associate with PV. 15 technologies that could potentially be used to address the most prominent root causes of the PV challenge landscape are identified with the use of grey literature and a focus group. With the use of Chan & Kaufman's (2010) technology selection framework, these technologies are assessed in order to determine which technologies are feasible to be implemented in PV. It is concluded that 13 of the originally identified technologies are feasible for addressing the prioritised root causes of the PV challenge landscape. Subsequently, a link between the 14 prioritised root causes of the prioritised PV challenge landscape and the 13 technologies is established, where it is described how each root cause can potentially be addressed by one or more of the 13 technologies. This research significantly contributes to the PV system by identifying opportunities to utilise technology to address the root causes of some of the most prominent challenges in PV. Additionally, this research makes a methodological contribution by proposing a combination of techniques that can be used to: scan and prioritise the challenge landscape in PV, prioritise and identify the root causes of the challenges experienced in PV, and identify and assess potential solutions that can be used to address these root causes.