Dataset Information

Assessing pharmacists' perspectives of HIV and the care of HIV-infected patients in Alabama.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The purpose was to assess factors potentially affecting care pharmacists provide to HIV/AIDS patients including comfort level, confidence, education, experience, professional competence, continuity of care and patient-provider relationship between pharmacists and HIV-infected patients.

Methods

A 24-item questionnaire assessed the constructs of this study. Surveys were distributed from October 2009 to April 2010 to pharmacists in Alabama with varying levels of experience treating HIV-infected patients. Chi-square tests determined whether relationships existed between responses, consisting of how often respondents reported treating HIV-infected patients, amount of HIV education respondents had, participants' confidence with HIV/AIDS knowledge and comfort level counseling HIV-infected patients about their medications.

Results

Thirty-three percent of the pharmacists cared for HIV-infected patients on a monthly basis, yet 86% do not feel very confident with their HIV/AIDS knowledge. Forty-four percent were not comfortable counseling patients on antiretroviral medications, and 77% would feel more comfortable with more education. Significant, positive relationships were revealed concerning how often respondents treat HIV-infected patients and their comfort level counseling them (r=0.208, p<0.05). Similar relationships pertaining to the amount of education respondents had regarding HIV, how confident they are in their HIV/AIDS knowledge (r=0.205, p< 0.05), and their comfort level counseling HIV-infected patients on their medications (r=0.312, p<0.01) were found. The time spent treating HIV-infected patients and the education respondents had pertaining to HIV/AIDS related to increased comfort levels concerning counseling patients on their medications.

Conclusions

This research uncovered areas where pharmacists can improve care and treatment for HIV-infected patients. Increasing education on HIV/AIDS and treatment options may lead to increased comfort and confidence in therapeutic management. Through changes in pharmacists' perspectives and abilities to care for their patients, the patient-provider relationship could strengthen, potentially leading to improved medication compliance, enhanced overall health, and a better quality of life for HIV-infected patients.

SUBMITTER: Davis Pate M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3780495 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Assessing pharmacists' perspectives of HIV and the care of HIV-infected patients in Alabama.

Davis Pate Margaret M Shell Ami T AT King Sean R SR

Pharmacy practice 20121001 4

<h4>Objective</h4>The purpose was to assess factors potentially affecting care pharmacists provide to HIV/AIDS patients including comfort level, confidence, education, experience, professional competence, continuity of care and patient-provider relationship between pharmacists and HIV-infected patients.<h4>Methods</h4>A 24-item questionnaire assessed the constructs of this study. Surveys were distributed from October 2009 to April 2010 to pharmacists in Alabama with varying levels of experience ...[more]

PMID: 24155836

Similar Datasets

Project description:OBJECTIVES:The objectives of this study were (1) to assess pharmacist readiness to provide pharmaceutical care for transgender patients through measuring both pharmacists' knowledge and attitudes towards transgender patients, (2) to assess transgender patients' perception of pharmacist readiness to provide them pharmaceutical care through measuring both pharmacists' knowledge and attitudes toward them, and (3) to compare pharmacist readiness to provide pharmaceutical care for transgender patients and patient perception of this readiness. DESIGN:The study used a descriptive, cross-sectional design. The pharmacist's readiness and the transgender patient's perception of their readiness, defined as a combination of knowledge and attitude, were evaluated. Two separate, validated questionnaires with dichotomous, multiple choice, and open-ended questions were used to measure both constructs among both populations. SETTING:Community-based research. PARTICIPANTS:Pharmacists practicing in Puerto Rico were provided the questionnaire by e-mail or in person. Transgender participants in Puerto Rico were recruited through health clinics and community partners and were surveyed in person. The analysis included responses from 96 pharmacists and 31 transgender participants. RESULTS:The majority of the pharmacists' knowledge scores (90%) were found in the low (0-5) and moderate (6-10) ranges, with a mean score of 7.23 out of a total possible score of 16 (SD ±2.36). For the attitude construct, most of the scores (81%) were found in the high (18-26) range, with a mean score of 19.63 out of a total possible score of 26 (SD ±3.65). For both constructs, transgender patient perceptions echoed the results of the pharmacists, indicating several perceived knowledge deficits in combination with mostly positive attitudes. CONCLUSION:The majority of pharmacists demonstrated positive attitudes toward caring for transgender patients, and transgender patients also perceived these positive attitudes from pharmacists. However, the measured and perceived knowledge deficits observed in this study suggest the need for educational interventions to improve pharmacist readiness to provide care for transgender patients.

Dataset Information

Assessing pharmacists' perspectives of HIV and the care of HIV-infected patients in Alabama.

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Assessing pharmacists' perspectives of HIV and the care of HIV-infected patients in Alabama.

Similar Datasets

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