Addressing Dietary-Related Health Disparities in Underserved Communities: Outcomes From a 24-Month Pilot, Subsidized Food Prescription Program in the Mississippi Delta.

This study examines the outcomes of the 24-months Charleston FoodRx food prescription program implemented in rural Mississippi to address dietary-related health disparities. Examine changes in participant produce consumption, food seccurity, and anthropometrics over a 24-month period. A one-group, repeated measures design, was utilized to assess changes in produce consumption, food security, and anthropometric data from baseline.

How new pharmacists handled COVID-19 misinformation: A qualitative study.

Background: New pharmacists, PharmD graduates of 2020 and 2021, faced the unique challenge of entering the workforce during the volatile and divisive COVID-19 pandemic. They had to navigate patient-driven misinformation while adapting to evolving roles, including the distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccines. Understanding the experiences of new pharmacists during this period is crucial for professional development and patient care.

Pharmacists' perceptions of pharmacy technician occupational values.

Background: Pharmacy technician scope of practice has expanded in recent years to attempt to alleviate the responsibility burden placed on pharmacists in some states. However, little research has examined the ways in which pharmacists attempt to persuade technicians to take on additional roles. Management literature has identified the importance of understanding employee values in crafting persuasive role expansion messaging.

The Development of a New Tool to Help Patients and Their Providers Evaluate Self-Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Diabetes self-management or self-care activity related to diet, physical activity, and glucose monitoring, among other things, is recognized as important to effectively managing this condition. The aim of this study was to create an assessment tool for evaluating knowledge and self-management behavior in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) for patients and their providers. The study utilized an online survey with a cross-sectional design of adults diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

Naloxone Accessibility Under the State Standing Order Across Mississippi.

Importance: Naloxone is a life-saving medication for individuals experiencing an opioid overdose. Naloxone standing orders aim to make naloxone more available by allowing patients improved access to this medication at community pharmacies; however, lawful availability does not mean that this life-saving intervention is accessible to patients.

Objective: To characterize naloxone availability and out-of-pocket cost under the state standing order in Mississippi.

The impact of pharmacy benefit managers on community pharmacy: A scoping review.

Introduction: The introduction of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) within the United States healthcare system occurred with the aim to decrease costs and increase quality. News media and legislation have painted a picture of decreased pharmacy competition and potential negative impacts on patients and their access to affordable medications.

Objective: The objective of this scoping review was to evaluate the current research literature examining the impact of PBMs on the finances of community pharmacies.

Student Service-Learning Projects: Good Intentions, Questionable Impact.

Student pharmacist-led service-learning projects aimed at community engagement generally provide health education while promoting the pharmacy profession. Many such projects often assume the needs and wants of community residents, and key community partners are often left off the decision-making table when it comes to planning. This paper will offer some reflection and guidance for student organizations to consider when planning projects, with a focus on local community partnerships to identify and address needs for more meaningful and sustainable impact.

College student behaviors and preferences in community pharmacies.

The primary goal of conducting this research was to gain insight into what characteristics of a community pharmacy college students may find appealing and how community pharmacies can tailor their services toward college students. The survey was distributed to 3,000 college students at The University of Mississippi from various schools and majors across campus. A total of 188 students participated by completing questions from the survey.

Defining rural spaces within pharmacy practice research: Current practice and implications.

The literature suggests that community pharmacies are a critical buffer to poor health for rural spaces, which are disproportionately impacted by a lack of facilities, providers, and resources. Yet, the actual impact is hard to measure because location is not often considered in assessments of community pharmacy practice. We explored the definitions applied to rural spaces in community pharmacy practice-based research studies that explicitly discuss rural pharmacy practice in 2 U.

RURAL-CP: a rural community pharmacy practice-based research network in the USA.

Introduction: To strengthen and demonstrate the ability of rural pharmacists to address their communities' health needs, we developed the first multi-state rural community pharmacy practice-based research network (PBRN) in the USA called the Rural Research Alliance of Community Pharmacies (RURAL-CP). Our objective is to describe the process for developing RURAL-CP and discuss challenges to creating a PBRN during the pandemic.

Methods: We conducted a literature review of community pharmacy PBRNs and met with expert consultants to gain insight into PBRN best practices.

COVID-19 booster vaccination in rural community pharmacies.

This study assessed rural community pharmacists' attitudes about COVID-19 vaccine booster doses and explored whether rural pharmacies offered these booster doses. Of the 80 rural Southeastern U.S.

Which pharmacists are performing antimicrobial stewardship: A national survey and a call for collaborative efforts.

Objectives: To determine how pharmacists with formal antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) responsibilities prioritize their time and pharmacists without formal antimicrobial stewardship program responsibilities contribute to ASP activities.

Design: A nationwide survey.

Respondents: Members of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy who subscribe to the following practice and research network e-mail listservs: infectious diseases, adult medicine, cardiology, critical care, hematology-oncology, immunology and transplantation, and pediatrics.

Examining the context, logistics, and outcomes of food prescription programs: A scoping review.

Background: Obesity and associated metabolic conditions are endemic. Finding new strategies to mitigate the impact on wellbeing and healthcare systems is critical. Food prescription programs (FPPs) have been promoted as one route to address this problem in a way that simultaneously addresses the socio-cultural context of obesity.

Food Insecurity in a Sample of Informal Caregivers in 4 Southern US States.

Introduction: Given the disproportionate burden of food insecurity in the southern US states and the high prevalence of caregiving in this area, we assessed caregiving-related predictors of food insecurity among caregivers in 4 southern US states.

Methods: We used data from the 2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) for individuals aged 18 years or older who resided in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee to assess the association between caregiving status and food insecurity, accounting for the complex survey design of BRFSS. Caregiving-related predictors of food insecurity were identified by using multivariable logistic regression.

Retroactive application of the EPIS framework to promote future implementation success in community pharmacy clinical interventions.

Background: The assessment of the implementation process of a clinical intervention in a community pharmacy setting can reveal useful insights for future implementation efforts.

Objective: We aimed to examine the implementation of a community pharmacist-led prospective registry and practice tool (RING, Epidemiology Research Coordinating Center and the University of Alberta) designed to reduce cardiovascular risk among patients with diabetes and to assess how the participating pharmacists could be supported at each of these stages.

Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted developed using the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment (EPIS) framework.

Rural community pharmacists' ability and interest in administering COVID-19 vaccines in the Southern United States.

Background: Community pharmacists are often the most accessible health professional in rural areas, which makes them well positioned to increase vaccine access in their communities. This study sought to document rural pharmacists' ability to and interest in administering coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccinations.

Methods: A sample of community pharmacists participating in a rural community pharmacy practice-based research network in the United States completed an online survey that assessed (1) demographic characteristics, (2) previous COVID-19 vaccine training, and (3) ability to administer COVID-19 vaccines.

Patient Centered Studies Focused on Type 2 Diabetes Management, Education, and Family Support: A Scoping Review.

Background: Although a large amount of research has been conducted in diabetes management, many of the articles do not focus on patient-centered questions and concerns. To address this shortcoming, patients and various other stakeholders from three northern Mississippi communities co-created research questions focused on Type 2 diabetes management.

Objective: To identify the diabetes management literature pertaining to each of the six patient-developed research questions from March 2010 to July 2020.

A Qualitative Approach to Investigating Developmental Opportunities Among Leaders and Followers.

To understand and identify developmental opportunities by exploring students' evolving views of leadership, including the emergence of leadership and self-identification, among students considered to be leaders and those considered to be followers. An exploratory qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was conducted, investigating developmental differences among leaders and followers. Fourteen students/residents were selected to participate in interviews.

Use of Adaptive Learning Technology to Promote Self-Directed Learning in a Pharmacists' Patient Care Process Course.

To evaluate student changes in self-directed learning (SDL) in a Pharmacists' Patient Care Process (PPCP) course using adaptive learning technology (ALT). The Pharmacists' Patient Care Process was delivered using traditional teaching methods in fall 2018 and ALT in spring 2019. First-year student pharmacists were surveyed three times throughout the academic year on SDL factors.

Caregivers' Perspectives of Pharmacist Intervention in Children's Antibiotic Prescriptions for Upper Respiratory Tract Infections.

Community pharmacists can help fight antimicrobial resistance by intervening in children's antibiotic prescriptions for upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). However, caregivers' attitudes and perspectives on this are unknown. To evaluate children's caregivers' acceptability of pharmacists intervening in their antibiotic prescriptions for URTIs with respect to their knowledge of and attitude toward pharmacists and knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors related to antibiotics.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Self-Reported Management of Chronic Conditions.

Chronic conditions (CCs) management during the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of the pandemic on patient activation (PA) and health locus of control (HLOC) remain unknown. This cross-sectional online survey study examined the role of COVID-19 pandemic-related worry or fear in PA and HLOC among patients with CCs. Individuals with CCs (n = 300) were recruited through MTurk Amazon.

Rural community pharmacies' preparedness for and responses to COVID-19.

Background: Few studies have documented rural community pharmacy disaster preparedness.

Objectives: To: (1) describe rural community pharmacies' preparedness for and responses to COVID-19 and (2) examine whether responses vary by level of pharmacy rurality.

Methods: A convenience sample of rural community pharmacists completed an online survey (62% response rate) that assessed: (a) demographic characteristics; (b) COVID-19 information source use; (c) interest in COVID-19 testing; (d) infection control procedures; (e) disaster preparedness training, and (f) medication supply impacts.