How Do Households Respond to Drug Shortages? Insights from Iowa and the Rural Midwest
Description
Background: Prescription drug shortages can disrupt care and impose burdens on patients, particularly in rural states with limited pharmacy access. Household behavioral responses to shortages (e.g., delayed treatment or switching medications) may reflect system-level resilience or vulnerability.
Objective: To assess the prevalence of prescription drug shortages and household-reported responses in Iowa compared to the Midwest region and national averages.
Methods: We analyzed nationally representative data from Phase 4.2, Cycle 9 of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey (August 20–September 16, 2024). We estimated survey-weighted prevalence and 95% confidence intervals of reported drug shortages and five behavioral responses, stratified by national, Midwest, and Iowa subgroups. All analyses were descriptive and conducted in RStudio using household-level survey weights.
Results: Iowa households reported a drug shortage in 14.1% of cases, slightly below the national (15.3%) and Midwest (15.7%) rates. Among affected households, Iowa respondents were less likely to change medications (19.5% vs. 25.1% Midwest), experience negative physical effects (17.9% vs. 24.8%), or spend more time/money (25.9% vs. 28.5%). The prevalence of delayed or rationed treatment was similar across groups (Iowa: 46.6%; Midwest: 47.2%; national: 46.4%).
Conclusion: Although prescription drug shortages in Iowa were slightly less prevalent than in the Midwest or nationally, Iowa households reported fewer adverse behavioral responses. These findings suggest that while Iowa households may experience fewer direct impacts, prescription drug shortages continue to impose significant burdens on consumers in the Midwest, with nearly half of affected households delaying or rationing care.
Citation Information
Pemberton, Meghan and Devine, Joshua, "How Do Households Respond to Drug Shortages? Insights from Iowa and the Rural Midwest" (2026). Office of Research DMU Research Symposium. 6.
https://digitalcommons.dmu.edu/researchsymposium/2025rs/2025abstracts/6
How Do Households Respond to Drug Shortages? Insights from Iowa and the Rural Midwest
Background: Prescription drug shortages can disrupt care and impose burdens on patients, particularly in rural states with limited pharmacy access. Household behavioral responses to shortages (e.g., delayed treatment or switching medications) may reflect system-level resilience or vulnerability.
Objective: To assess the prevalence of prescription drug shortages and household-reported responses in Iowa compared to the Midwest region and national averages.
Methods: We analyzed nationally representative data from Phase 4.2, Cycle 9 of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey (August 20–September 16, 2024). We estimated survey-weighted prevalence and 95% confidence intervals of reported drug shortages and five behavioral responses, stratified by national, Midwest, and Iowa subgroups. All analyses were descriptive and conducted in RStudio using household-level survey weights.
Results: Iowa households reported a drug shortage in 14.1% of cases, slightly below the national (15.3%) and Midwest (15.7%) rates. Among affected households, Iowa respondents were less likely to change medications (19.5% vs. 25.1% Midwest), experience negative physical effects (17.9% vs. 24.8%), or spend more time/money (25.9% vs. 28.5%). The prevalence of delayed or rationed treatment was similar across groups (Iowa: 46.6%; Midwest: 47.2%; national: 46.4%).
Conclusion: Although prescription drug shortages in Iowa were slightly less prevalent than in the Midwest or nationally, Iowa households reported fewer adverse behavioral responses. These findings suggest that while Iowa households may experience fewer direct impacts, prescription drug shortages continue to impose significant burdens on consumers in the Midwest, with nearly half of affected households delaying or rationing care.
