First-Year Experiences with the Interagency Guidelines for Drug Donations: 2. Sources of information and study methodology: General overview of the method

First-Year Experiences with the Interagency Guidelines for Drug Donations
(2000; 51 pages)

Table of Contents

	Acknowledgements
	Executive summary
	1. Introduction
		Short history of the concept of "good donation practice"
		Objective of the study
		Outline of the report
	2. Sources of information and study methodology
		General overview of the method
		Definition of respondents
		Questionnaires
		Distribution of questionnaires
		Inclusion criteria
		Sample size
		Data analysis
	3. Dissemination and uptake of the Guidelines
		The development stage: September 1994 - May 1996
		The launch: May 1996
		After May 1996: dissemination of the Guidelines
		Other publications about drug donations
		Conferences at which the Guidelines were discussed
		International organizations subscribing to the Guidelines
		Countries and national organizations that have adapted or adopted the Guidelines
		Other country studies on drug donations
	4. Basic characteristics of drug donations
		Magnitude of donations made in the past 12 months
		Cost basis of donation value
		Percentage of donations made for emergencies
		Percentage of donations based on specific requests
	5. Practical benefits as a result of the Guidelines
		General benefits
		Specific benefits for recipients
	6. Drug donations which were hampered, delayed or cancelled
	7. Experiences and opinions regarding the 12-month shelf-life requirement
		Impact of the Guidelines
		Guidelines by other organizations
		Agreement with the current provision
		Problems with the Guidelines
		Arguments for and against the 12-month shelf-life provision
		Recommendations
	8. Other suggestions to improve the Guidelines
		Recommendation
	9. How could donation practice be further improved?
		Discussing the Guidelines improves donation practice
		Give more practical advice on good donation practice
		Recommendations
	10. Summary of recommendations
	11. Postscript
	References

General overview of the method

The review conducted by WHO is a descriptive study for which the information was collected from standardized questionnaires sent to a large number of donors, consolidators and recipients of drug donations. The information obtained through these questionnaires includes self-reported data, experiences and opinions of the respondent organizations or individuals. These data were supplemented by information already available in WHO/DAP. If clarification was needed, additional information was obtained through direct interviews with respondents, and through reports and literature reviews. The observations and conclusions derived from the questionnaires were validated with key informants and experts. The data collected do not provide an independent and objective assessment of the impact of drug donations, but represent the opinions and experiences of a large number of organizations and experts dealing with drug donations.