The College of Pharmacy discussed the MSc thesis entitled “A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of the Gudea Medicine Traceability System in Iraq: Perceived Usefulness and Barriers among Pharmacists and General Public Using the Technology Acceptance Model” by the student Taef Sabri Rustum Alrubaye and the supervisor, Assistant Professor Dr. Ali Azeez Al-Jumaili, at the Clinical Pharmacy Department, in collaboration with the Iraqi Ministry of Health. The study is considered the first of its kind in Iraq to evaluate the perspectives of beneficiaries and users of the Gudea medicine traceability system in its two components: the medicine price label and the Gudea application. It examined the perspectives of members of the general public and community pharmacists, as well as directors of scientific drug bureaus, while also exploring the key barriers and challenges associated with implementing the system.
The study aimed to evaluate the implementation of the Gudea medicine traceability system in Iraq and to explore the use and perceived benefits of the medicine price label and Gudea application among community pharmacists and the general public. It also examined major barriers and implementation challenges from the perspectives of relevant stakeholders.
The study employed an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The qualitative phase included semi-structured interviews with four stakeholder groups: 15 members of the general population, 16 community pharmacists, 10 directors of scientific drug bureaus, and two Ministry of Health officials directly involved in the implementation of the Gudea system. Findings from the interviews with the general population and community pharmacists informed the development of the corresponding quantitative questionnaires. The quantitative phase included 553 members of the general population and 506 community pharmacists. In addition, 184 pharmacists provided open-ended written comments that were analyzed thematically.
The results showed that the medicine price label was used more frequently than the Gudea application by both the general population and community pharmacists. Among the general population, 57.0% regularly checked the medicine price label, whereas 12.7% had used the Gudea application. Among community pharmacists, regular checking of the label was common during medicine receipt and dispensing, while 32.8% had used the Gudea application. The findings also indicated that use of the system was influenced by several factors, including perceived usefulness, behavioral intention, social influences, and demographic characteristics. Qualitative findings indicated that the Gudea system supported medicine authentication, price control, medicine traceability, and inspection and regulatory activities. However, several barriers were identified, including incomplete system coverage, technical limitations of the Gudea application, limited training and awareness, problems related to label design and placement, and concerns regarding medicine pricing and implementation costs.
The study concluded that the Gudea system represents an important step towards improving pharmaceutical traceability, transparency, and regulatory oversight in Iraq. However, achieving its full potential requires addressing the remaining technical, organizational, and awareness-related challenges.
The study recommended expanding system coverage, strengthening integration between regulatory authorities, laboratories, and border entry points, improving the medicine price label and Gudea application, providing training for pharmacists and public awareness programs, ensuring consistent implementation, and reviewing relevant pricing and labeling costs.
