Reviewing state-mandated training requirements for naloxone-dispensing pharmacists.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Roberts AW
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6173665 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Reviewing state-mandated training requirements for naloxone-dispensing pharmacists.
Roberts Andrew W AW Carpenter Delesha M DM Smith Austin A Look Kevin A KA
Research in social & administrative pharmacy : RSAP 20180405 2
<h4>Background</h4>Expanding access to naloxone is crucial for mitigating the public health epidemic of opioid overdose deaths in America. Pharmacists now have greater independent authority to dispense naloxone to the public due to a wave of enhanced pharmacy naloxone access laws. It is unknown to what extent pharmacists are required to receive specialized training to serve in this capacity.<h4>Objectives</h4>The goal of this study was to review naloxone training mandates from states with enhanc ...[more]
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Project description:BackgroundThe San Francisco Department of Public Health initiated naloxone prescribing at 6 safety net clinics. We evaluated this intervention, demonstrating that naloxone prescribing from primary care clinics is feasible and acceptable.ObjectiveTo evaluate acceptability of naloxone dispensing to patients prescribed opioids among pharmacists serving clinics participating in a naloxone intervention.MethodsWe surveyed 58 pharmacists from November 2013 through January 2015 at pharmacies that serviced San Francisco safety net clinics. Surveys collected information on demographics, experiences in dispensing naloxone, and interest in prescriptive authority. We conducted descriptive analyses and assessed bivariate relationships.ResultsMost respondents were staff (56.9%) or supervising pharmacists (34.5%). Most (92.9%) were aware their pharmacy stocked naloxone and 86.8% felt it should be prescribed to some or all patients on long-term opioids. Most (82.1%) dispensed naloxone at least once in the past 12 months. More than half were comfortable providing naloxone education. Nearly half (43.4%) indicated they would want authority to furnish without a prescription. Over half (55.2%) reported no problems dispensing. The common problem was insufficient naloxone knowledge. Only 12% reported more than one problem in dispensing naloxone, which was associated with being uncomfortable with educating patients (P = .03).ConclusionNaloxone dispensing was acceptable among pharmacists. Their most cited problem was insufficient naloxone education. This may be resolved with improved instructional materials, incentives for patient education, or mandatory training.
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Project description:ObjectiveTo test whether Medicaid expansion is associated with (a) a greater number of naloxone prescriptions dispensed and (b) a higher proportion of naloxone prescriptions paid by Medicaid.Data sources/study settingWe used the IQVIA National Prescription Audit to obtain data on per state per quarter naloxone prescription dispensing for the period 2011-16.Study designIn this quasi-experimental design study, the impact of Medicaid expansion on naloxone prescription dispensing was examined using difference-in-difference estimation models. State-level covariates including pharmacy-based naloxone laws (standing/protocol orders and direct authority to dispense naloxone), third-party prescribing laws, opioid analgesic prescribing rates, opioid-involved overdose death rates, and population size were controlled for in the analysis.Principal findingsMedicaid expansion was associated with 38 additional naloxone prescriptions dispensed per state per quarter compared to nonexpansion controls, on average (P = .030). Also, Medicaid expansion resulted in an average increase of 9.86 percent in the share of naloxone prescriptions paid by Medicaid per state per quarter (P < .001).ConclusionsOur study found that Medicaid expansion increased naloxone availability. This finding suggests that it will be important to consider naloxone access when making federal- and state-level decisions affecting Medicaid coverage.
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Project description:Background: Pharmacists are on the frontline caring for patients at risk of an opioid overdose and for patients with an opioid use disorder (OUD). Dispensing naloxone and medications for OUD and counseling patients about these medications are ways pharmacists can provide care. Key to pharmacists' involvement is their willingness to take on these practice responsibilities. Methods: The purpose of this scoping review is to identify, evaluate, and summarize published literature describing pharmacists' attitudes toward naloxone and medications for OUD, i.e., methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. All searches were performed on December 7, 2018, in 5 databases: Embase.com, PubMed.gov, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) via EBSCOhost, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials via Wiley, and Clarivate Web of Science. Articles included original research conducted in the United States, described attitude-related language toward naloxone and medications for OUD, and pharmacists. Results: A total of 1323 articles were retrieved, 7 were included. Five studies reported on pharmacists' attitudes toward naloxone dispensing, 1 study reported on attitudes toward naloxone, buprenorphine, and buprenorphine/naloxone, and 1 reported on attitudes toward buprenorphine/naloxone. Respondents were diverse, including pharmacists from different practice specialties. Studies found that pharmacists agreed with a naloxone standing order, believed that naloxone should be dispensed to individuals at risk of an opioid overdose, and were supportive of dispensing buprenorphine. A minority of pharmacists expressed negative attitudes. Barriers cited to implementation included education and training, workflow, and management support. Conclusions: Pharmacists were positive in their attitudes toward increased practice responsibilities for patients at risk of an opioid overdose or with an OUD. Pharmacists must receive education and training to be current in their understanding of OUD medications, and they must be supported in order to provide effective care to this patient population.
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| S-EPMC6593960 | biostudies-literature
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Project description:Mathematics and science course graduation requirement (CGR) increases in the 1980s and 1990s might have had both intended and unintended consequences. Using logistic regression with Census and American Community Survey (ACS) data (n = 2,892,444), we modeled CGR exposure on (a) high school dropout, (b) beginning college, and (c) obtaining any college degree. Possible between-groups differences were also assessed. We found that higher CGRs were associated with higher odds to drop out of high school, but results for the college-level outcomes varied by group. Some were less likely to enroll, whereas others who began college were more likely to obtain a degree. Increased high school dropout was consistent across the population, but some potential benefit was also observed, primarily for those reporting Hispanic ethnicity.
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Project description:Background & objectiveUninformed use of medications can be dangerous especially those medications that require some level of monitoring to ensure safety and tolerability and prevent misuse, such as benzodiazepines and other psychotropic medications. In most developed countries, medications (except over-the-counter medications) are not dispensed without a physician's script. This may not be true for developing countries, like Pakistan, where nearly all medications are dispensed without a script. However, the extent and nature of script-less dispensing has never been studied. This study was designed to investigate the extent and prevalence of dispensing psychotropic medications without physicians' prescriptions, and the pharmacy practices, including the staff qualifications, to not only dispense but also recommend psychotropic medications, in Karachi, Pakistan.MethodA Cross-sectional study was conducted in Karachi over three months (September 2021 to November 2021) with 200 pharmacists in various pharmacies, using a structured questionnaire in a convenient study sample. Pharmacists from registered pharmacies were included in the study. Statistical analysis was done using the Chi-Square test of association.ResultsOut of 200 pharmacists working at various locations, 89.0% did not required prescriptions to dispense medications, with benzodiazepines being the most frequently dispensed medication. Surprisingly, only 9.0% had a bachelor's in pharmacy and were qualified enough to legally dispense medications. 76.0% admitted to recommending medications to the patients. Since many of the pharmacists were not qualified enough to dispense medications, 78.5% mentioned that they did not had awareness regarding the abuse potential of psychotropic medications.ConclusionDispensing of psychotropic medications without prescriptions and recommending such medications has been a significant issue in the past. Our study reveals this practice to be prevalent in this part of the world, posing a serious threat to the patients. Steps should be taken by the government to ensure proper dispensing of these medications having an abuse potential to prevent harm.
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Project description:Objective:To evaluate pharmacists' attitudes toward the Take Home Naloxone (THN) program and identify areas that could be improved to support pharmacists' involvement. Methods:Pharmacists on the Alberta College of Pharmacists' directory were invited to complete an online survey between July 10 and August 8, 2016. The survey consisted of 19 questions. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results:Four hundred seventy pharmacists completed the survey (response rate = 11.2%). A total of 76.8% of respondents strongly agreed or agreed that pharmacists should be screening patients to identify those at risk of opioid overdose. Full-time pharmacists were more likely to agree (p = 0.02). A total of 79.8% of respondents strongly agreed or agreed that pharmacists should be recommending THN kits. Pharmacists working in large population centres (p = 0.008) and full-time pharmacists (p = 0.02) were more likely to agree with this statement. Furthermore, 60.6% of pharmacists were extremely willing or very willing to participate in the THN program. Pharmacists in practice for ≤15 years were more willing to participate in the THN program than pharmacists in practice >15 years (p = 0.03). The most common perceived barriers to implementation of the THN program were lack of time in pharmacists' current work environment and education about the program. Conclusions:Overall, pharmacists had positive attitudes toward screening patients to identify those at risk of opioid overdose, recommending THN kits and willingness to participate in the program. Factors that may facilitate increased participation in the program include addressing time issues and improving education about the THN program.
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Project description:ObjectivesThe objective of this study is to assess West Virginia pharmacists' stocking and dispensing practices of opioid-related medications and to identify the educational needs relating to providing naloxone in community pharmacies.DesignA cross-sectional, anonymous, 49-item survey was created and validated to assess the educational needs of West Virginia community pharmacists.SettingWest Virginia.ParticipantsThe data collection instrument was administered to 266 pharmacists currently licensed in West Virginia at 6 continuing pharmacy education events throughout the state from March 1 to June 15, 2016.Outcome measuresPharmacists' educational needs were determined using the Extended Parallel Process Model, which has 4 main constructs: perceived severity, perceived susceptibility, response efficacy, and self-efficacy. Pharmacists' stocking and dispensing of opioids and related medications were also assessed.ResultsPharmacists completed 157 surveys. They were mostly male (56.1%), full-time employees (67.5%), worked mostly in community pharmacies (69.4%), and had a mean age of 50.19 years (SD = 13.62). The newly adapted opioid perceived efficacy and perceived severity of opioid adverse events scales were tested for reliability and validity. Only 20.4% of the community pharmacists surveyed felt comfortable selling naloxone without a prescription. As for the other opioid-related medications, only 53.3% stocked buprenorphine and 74.8% stocked buprenorphine/naloxone.ConclusionsAs the most accessible health care providers, community pharmacists are acutely aware of how the opioid epidemic affects their communities. Some pharmacists in West Virginia are hesitant to stock and dispense opioids and opioid-dependence medications. Although this may decrease the flow of potentially abused drugs into the community, it may also restrict access to necessary therapy for patients with opioid use disorder. Furthermore, pharmacists in West Virginia are not yet comfortable stocking and dispensing naloxone. Tailored educational materials can help in controlling the pharmacists' fear and reinforce the benefits of over-the-counter naloxone use.
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