The SHARE-HRS ScRAPS Model of Scarce Health Resource Allocation in Humanitarian Response Settings: Thematic Analysis of Lived Experiences.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this research is to explore and report on factors that define and impact resource availability and the decision-making space regarding scarce health resources in humanitarian response settings.

METHODS

This research was conducted with an exploratory qualitative design. Clinicians and managers with relevant experience were identified and purposively recruited to include broad perspectives. Semi-structured interviews were conducted remotely to produce transcripts of participant narrative which were analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis approach to allow themes to arise from the data.

RESULTS

Seventeen interviews were conducted, contributing 887 minutes of data. Five themes framing decision-making were identified: scope; relationships; adaptation; power; and security. Each theme influences resource availability and the experience of health resource allocation decisions in humanitarian contexts. Collectively, the themes informed the development of the Scarce Health Resource Allocation in Humanitarian Response Settings (SHARE-HRS) ScRAPS Model.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this research articulate several pertinent factors that shape resource allocation decision-making in humanitarian health responses. In consolidating these factors, the resulting ScRAPS Model provides a conceptualization and analytical framework for considering humanitarian health responses. Finally, this research illuminates a potential path for future research and communicating learned lessons through a proposed common language.