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TGA stakeholder survey 2018
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Confidence in the TGA
Measures of confidence in the TGA were established across five areas in the 2018 survey (Table 8). The strongest outcome observed is in relation to the trustworthiness of the TGA, with just under 7 in 10 responses highlighting High or Full confidence and a further one in four highlighting Moderate confidence. This measure was the only measure tracked in this question set between 2016 and 2018, with the 2018 result falling slightly lower than both the 2017 (73% High or Full confidence) and 2016 (76%) outcomes.
There is a generally strong level of confidence that the TGA Makes decisions based on scientific evidence (62% Nett high confidence and a further 29% moderately confident). Measures of Transparency (50% Nett high confidence), Accountability (54%) and Clear articulation of decisions (48%) are generally lower, showing both lower levels of Nett high confidence as well as higher levels of Nett low confidence at (16%-17%).
Table 8: Confidence in the TGA (%)
| Statement | Nett low confidence | Not at all confident | Low confidence | Moderate confidence | High confidence | Full confidence | Nett high confidence | N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Makes decisions based on scientific evidence | 8.6 | 1.7 | 6.9 | 29.1 | 49.8 | 12.5 | 62.2 | 2180 |
| Is transparent | 16.6 | 3.9 | 12.7 | 33.3 | 39.5 | 10.7 | 50.2 | 2177 |
| Is accountable for its decisions | 16 | 4.1 | 11.9 | 29.9 | 41.8 | 12.2 | 54.1 | 2168 |
| Clearly articulates reasons for its decisions | 16.6 | 3.9 | 12.7 | 35.1 | 38.4 | 9.9 | 48.3 | 2175 |
| Is trustworthy | 6.4 | 2.1 | 4.4 | 24.4 | 49.7 | 19.5 | 69.2 | 2173 |
Responses across major stakeholder groupings (shown in Figures 14-18) highlight a general pattern where Health professional and Retailer stakeholders consistently show lower levels of confidence. Government and Medical products industry groups in the survey tend to show overall higher levels of confidence across these measures.
Med prod ind: N=1,473; Health pro: N=208; Retailer: N=73; Gov: N=67; Academic: N=63; Media: N=2; Other: N=288.
Med prod ind: N=1,471; Health pro: N=209; Retailer: N=72; Gov: N=67; Academic: N=63; Media: N=2; Other: N=287.
Med prod ind: N=1,464; Health pro: N=208; Retailer: N=72; Gov: N=67; Academic: N=62; Media: N=2; Other: N=287.
Med prod ind: N=1,469; Health pro: N=209; Retailer: N=72; Gov: N=67; Academic: N=63; Media: N=2; Other: N=287.
Med prod ind: N=1,470; Health pro: N=207; Retailer: N=72; Gov: N=66; Academic: N=63; Media: N=2; Other: N=287.
The overall lower level of confidence observed within the Health professionals category is generally observed across most sub-groupings within this category (Figure 19). Most notably, Complementary healthcare practitioners show substantially lower levels of confidence across all measures, accounting for a large proportion of the overall observed discrepancies here. Despite this, other groupings including Medical practitioners and Pharmacists tend to show lower than average overall confidence levels.
Pharmacist: N=32-33; Med prac: N=44; Nurse: N=22-23; Comp health: N=38-39; Dental: N=9; Other: N=59-60.
Within the Medical products industry category there is a generally tight clustering of responses across the range of confidence measures tracked (Figure 20). The most notable outcome here is in relation to the small group of Industry association representatives, who appear less likely to have confidence that the TGA is trustworthy. Those who identify in the Other category also tend to show lower confidence across three of the measures (Scientific evidence, Accountability and Articulation of reasons for decisions). Similarly to other areas in the survey, Regulatory affairs consultants and Product manufacturers show relatively high levels of confidence in the TGA when compared to the overall average.
Sponsor: N=895-898; Manufacturer: N=401-403; Reg Affairs Con: N=103-104; Ind Assoc Rep: N=10-11; Other: N=51-54.