Barriers and facilitators to the implementation of screening and intervention for co-use of opioid medications and alcohol among community pharmacy patients.

Introduction: A significant risk for overdose among patients prescribed opioid medications is co-use of alcohol. Community pharmacies are underutilized as a resource to prevent and address co-use. The barriers and facilitators that promote or impede the adoption of universal alcohol screening and intervention at point of opioid medication dispensing are unknown.

Abandonment of prescriptions in medically underserved areas: Primary medication non-adherence in community pharmacies in the delta region of the United States.

Background: In the U.S. alone, medication non-adherence is estimated to cause 1 in 10 hospitalizations, approximately 125,000 deaths annually, and cost the U.

Demographic Influences on Adult HPV Vaccination: Results from a Cross-Sectional Survey in Tennessee.

HPV is the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection in the U.S., with more than 80% of all Americans contracting it by age 45.

Views of the Pharmacists' Role in HPV Vaccinations: A Qualitative Study in Tennessee.

Unlabelled: The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a frequently occurring sexually transmitted infection in adults and is associated with various cancers that can affect both males and females. Recently, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) expanded its recommendations for the HPV vaccine to include patients aged 27-45 years with shared clinical decision-making. A commonly reported obstacle to receiving the HPV vaccine among adults is a lack of healthcare provider recommendations.

Engaging community pharmacies in practice-based research: Lessons from opioid-focused research.

There is an established need to translate evidence-based practices into real-world practice. Community pharmacists and their corresponding pharmacies are well-positioned to be effective partners as researchers seek to study and implement practice-based research. Challenges exist when partnering with community pharmacies which can vary based on the study type, the nature of the community pharmacy, and stakeholder groups (i.

Patient reported goals for medications for opioid use disorder: A theory of proximal goal attainment.

Background: There exist substantial patient barriers to accessing medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), including travel distance, stigma, and availability of MOUD providers. Yet, despite these barriers, there exists a subset of patients who possess the requisite motivation to seek and remain adherent to treatment.

Objective: To explore patient-derived goals in MOUD treatment-adherent patients.

Student Perceptions of Substance Use Disorder Stigma as a Factor for Health Disparities: A Mixed-Methods Study.

Background: The prevalence of substance use disorders (SUDs) is an alarming problem in the United States; however, only a fraction of patients receive treatment. Stigma from both healthcare professionals and society at large negatively impacts SUD treatment. There are limited data regarding the perceptions of healthcare students on SUD stigma as a health disparity.

"Following your dreams, and not killing yourself to do so": Black PharmDstudent perceptions of pharmacy residency.

Objective: Residency training is a key element of advancing the roles of pharmacists in patient care. Diversifying the healthcare workforce is also crucial in reducing health disparities and improving health equity. The objective of this study was to investigate Black Doctor of Pharmacy students' perceptions of pursuing pharmacy residency training to aid pharmacy educators in creating and improving structures to support the professional advancement of Black student pharmacists.

Perspectives Associated with Human Papillomavirus Vaccination in Adults: A Qualitative Study.

Background: In the last several decades, vaccine hesitancy has become a significant global public health concern. The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has been on the United States of America (USA) market since 2006, with extended approval up to age 45 granted in 2018. To date, there is limited research evaluating barriers and facilitators related to HPV vaccine initiation among adults and the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals' vaccine-related behaviors.

Impact of a pharmacist-led, primary medication nonadherence intervention program on prescription fills in underserved patient populations.

Background: Poor medication adherence is a critical barrier to improving patient health. Patients who are medically underserved are prone to a chronic disease state diagnosis and experience different social determinants of health.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the impact of a primary medication nonadherence (PMN) intervention on prescription fills in underserved patient populations.

Community-Centered Patient Journey Map in Opioid Use Disorder: A Tool to Address Compassion Fatigue among Community Pharmacists.

Community pharmacists have become increasingly exposed to opioid use disorders in recent decades. However, both pharmacist training and traditional practice environments have not been adequate to prepare the pharmacist for both the patient care needs and regulatory barriers of patients experiencing opioid use disorders (OUD). As a result, there is a need to increase pharmacists' awareness of both the overall patient experience as they navigate their OUD and the role of the community pharmacy as a touchpoint within that experience.

Pharmacy personnel comfort and confidence in screening for social needs: A pilot study.

Background: Addressing social needs (such as lack of adequate housing, food, and transportation) has been shown to improve medication adherence and overall patient outcomes. However, screening for social needs during routine patient care can be challenging due to lack of knowledge of social resources and adequate training.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study is to explore the comfort and confidence of community pharmacy personnel in a chain community pharmacy when discussing social determinants of health (SDOH) with patients.

A Pilot Study Exploring the Impact of a Primary Medication Non-Adherence Intervention among Four Chronic Disease States in One Regional Division of a Large Community Pharmacy Chain.

There is a 12.2% rate of primary medication non-adherence (PMN) among community pharmacy patients. The Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA) has developed a standardized definition of PMN to aid stakeholders in addressing PMN.

Exploring the Membership Pharmacy Model: Initial impact and feasibility.

Background: There is a need to shift pharmacy payment models, given the expanding role of the community pharmacist in improving patient outcomes, misaligned incentives of the existing reimbursement model, and deleterious effects of a lack of transparency on prescription costs.

Objectives: The primary objective of this paper was to develop a payment strategy for a Membership Pharmacy Model within an independent community pharmacy setting. A secondary objective of this paper is to explore the early impact of a novel value-based pharmacy payment model on patients, pharmacies, and self-insured employers.

Pharmacists as important prescribers of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) antivirals.

Although pharmacists are key members of the healthcare team, they are currently ineligible to independently prescribe the oral coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) antivirals. We report the roles pharmacists have undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic and provide evidence for the support of independent oral COVID-19 antiviral prescribing.

Assessing Student Perceptions of Blended and Online Learning Courses in Pharmacoeconomics, Management, and Leadership.

Blended learning combines traditional face-to-face education with online instruction. This learner-centered approach has been shown to improve student engagement, critical thinking, and performance outcomes. The objective of this study was to assess and trend student pharmacist perceptions of blended and online learning used to teach pharmacy management, leadership, and economics within a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) curriculum.

Cultures of support and resilience are associated with certified pharmacy technicians embracing new roles.

Background: Various technological, economic, and regulatory factors are creating opportunities for pharmacy technicians to take on additional responsibilities. Technicians in the broader sense have indicated a preference for expanded scope of duties; however, it is not known what drives technicians' greater inclinations to accept these new roles.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the association of various work-related factors, such as co-worker support, pharmacist-leadership style, future uncertainty, their own organizational commitment, and personal characteristics of technicians, including their resilience, on pharmacy technicians' willingness to take on emerging responsibilities in pharmacy.

Technicians' perception of pharmacist leadership behaviors on their own commitment and turnover intention.

Purpose: To evaluate technicians' perceptions of how they are supported and supervised by pharmacists through assessment of various components of pharmacists' leadership behaviors in developing the technician workforce. Additional objectives included evaluating levels of pharmacy technician uncertainty about their future, job commitment, and turnover intention in relation to perceived pharmacist leadership behaviors.

Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional design involving administration of an online questionnaire survey.

Correlations to and potential implications of resilience among certified pharmacy technicians.

Objectives: To assess resilience among a sample of certified pharmacy technicians in the United States and evaluate associations between resilience and various personal and work-related characteristics and conditions, including coworker support and pharmacist leadership behaviors, and to assess the relationship between technicians' resilience and support from coworkers and commitment to their organization.

Methods: This study employed the use of a self-administered questionnaire survey electronically in a cross-sectional design. The questionnaire was delivered with a response portal open for approximately 6 weeks during the spring of 2022 to a sample of 3000 technicians certified through the National Healthcareer Association.

Implementing community pharmacy-based influenza point-of-care test-and-treat under collaborative practice agreement.

Background: Early and accessible testing for influenza with point-of-care testing (POCT) can be a critical factor for deciding to begin antiviral treatment. More than 10,000 pharmacies across the USA offer Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments-waived POCT for infectious diseases, such as influenza A/B. Knowledge of barriers and facilitators to large-scale POCT implementation may be useful in scaling POCT for influenza test-and-treat services (Flu POCT).

Clinical Nudge Impact on Herpes Zoster Vaccine Series Completion in Pharmacies.

Introduction: A new recombinant herpes zoster vaccine has advanced efforts to prevent shingles, but its multidose regimen introduces potential barriers to full protection that must be managed by community pharmacies. To address this potential patient management challenge, a pharmacy records clinical support tool was implemented to assist pharmacy staff in managing herpes zoster vaccine dose completion.

Methods: Beginning in November 2018, a large community pharmacy chain (operating in 36 states) implemented a provider nudge within its clinical decision support tool across all locations that fit seamlessly into the existing workflow, alerting the pharmacy staff of the need for a patient's second dose.

The Lean Six Sigma Define, Measure, Analyze, Implement, Control (LSS DMAIC) Framework: An Innovative Strategy for Quality Improvement of Pharmacist Vaccine Recommendations in Community Pharmacy.

Community pharmacies represent a highly accessible and convenient setting for vaccination. However, setting-specific barriers exist which contribute to suboptimal vaccination rates, particularly for pneumococcal vaccinations. One proven quality improvement framework growing in use within healthcare settings is Lean Six Sigma (LSS).

Enhancing point-of-care testing through standardized training and redeployment of pharmacy technicians in the community setting.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to assess the impact of a standardized training model for technician-supported point-of-care testing (POCT) on the number of health screenings performed across two states in a large community chain pharmacy. Secondary objectives included the assessment of pharmacist and technician perceptions of advanced roles of the pharmacy technician in POCT service delivery.

Practice Description: Certified pharmacy technicians (CPhTs) across six regional divisions of a large community chain pharmacy in Tennessee and Ohio participated in a standardized training program prior to implementation of technician-supported POCT.

A systematic literature review of patient perspectives of barriers and facilitators to access, adherence, stigma, and persistence to treatment for substance use disorder.

Introduction: The opioid crisis has left a devastating impact on the United States (U.S.) for over 20 years.

Importance of pharmacist-patient relationship in people living with HIV and concomitant opioid use disorder.

Background: PLWHA commonly suffer from chronic pain that is often treated with opioids, leading to subsequent opiate use disorders. As the majority of Americans live in close proximity to a pharmacy, community pharmacists are well equipped to interact with PLWHA. Few data quantify the needs of PLWHA with OUD, or how they utilize community pharmacists.