Primary healthcare policy and vision for community pharmacy and pharmacists in the United States

Getting HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) into Private Pharmacies: Global Delivery Models and Research Directions

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To provide an overview of the current state of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) delivery via private sector pharmacies globally, to discuss the context-specific factors that have influenced the design and implementation of different pharmacy-based PrEP delivery models in three example settings, and to identify future research directions.

RECENT FINDINGS

Multiple high- and low-income countries are implementing or pilot testing PrEP delivery via private pharmacies using a variety of delivery models, tailored to the context. Current evidence indicates that pharmacy-based PrEP services are in demand and generally acceptable to clients and pharmacy providers. Additionally, the evidence suggests that with proper training and oversight, pharmacy providers are capable of safely initiating and managing clients on PrEP. The delivery of PrEP services at private pharmacies also achieves similar levels of PrEP initiation and continuation as traditional health clinics, but additionally reach individuals underserved by such clinics (e.g., young men; minorities), making pharmacies well-positioned to increase overall PrEP coverage. Implementation of pharmacy-based PrEP services will look different in each context and depend not only on the state of the private pharmacy sector, but also on the extent to which key needs related to governance, financing, and regulation are addressed. Private pharmacies are a promising delivery channel for PrEP in diverse settings. Countries with robust private pharmacy sectors and populations at HIV risk should focus on aligning key areas related to governance, financing, and regulation that have proven critical to pharmacy-based PrEP delivery while pursuing an ambitious research agenda to generate information for decision-making. Additionally, the nascency of pharmacy-based PrEP delivery in both high- and low-and-middle-income settings presents a prime opportunity for shared learning and innovation.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of primary healthcare practitioners regarding pharmacist clinics: a cross-sectional study in Shanghai

BACKGROUND

Pharmacist clinics offer professional pharmaceutical services that can improve public health outcomes. However, primary healthcare staff in China face various barriers and challenges in implementing such clinics. To identify existing problems and provide recommendations for the implementation of pharmacist clinics, this study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of pharmacist clinics among primary healthcare providers.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey based on the Knowledge-Attitude-Practice (KAP) model, was conducted in community health centers (CHCs) and private hospitals in Shanghai, China in May, 2023. Descriptive analytics and the Pareto principle were used to multiple-answer questions. Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and binary logistic regression models were employed to identify factors associated with the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of pharmacist clinics.

RESULTS

A total of 223 primary practitioners participated in the survey. Our study revealed that most of them had limited knowledge (60.1%, n = 134) but a positive attitude (82.9%, n = 185) towards pharmacist clinics, with only 17.0% (n = 38) having implemented them. The primary goal of pharmacist clinics was to provide comprehensive medication guidance (31.5%, n = 200), with medication education (26.3%, n = 202) being the primary service, and special populations (24.5%, n = 153) identified as key recipients. Logistic regression analysis revealed that education, age, occupation, position, work seniority, and institution significantly influenced their perceptions. Practitioners with bachelor's degrees, for instance, were more likely than those with less education to recognize the importance of pharmacist clinics in medication guidance (aOR: 7.130, 95%CI: 1.809-28.099, p-value = 0.005) and prescription reviews (aOR: 4.675, 95% CI: 1.548-14.112, p-value = 0.006). Additionally, practitioners expressed positive attitudes but low confidence, with only 33.3% (n = 74) feeling confident in implementation. The confidence levels of male practitioners surpassed those of female practitioners (p-value = 0.037), and practitioners from community health centers (CHCs) exhibited higher confidence compared to their counterparts in private hospitals (p-value = 0.008). Joint physician-pharmacist clinics (36.8%, n = 82) through collaboration with medical institutions (52.0%, n = 116) emerged as the favored modality. Daily sessions were preferred (38.5%, n = 86), and both registration and pharmacy service fees were considered appropriate for payment (42.2%, n = 94). The primary challenge identified was high outpatient workload (30.9%, n = 69).

CONCLUSIONS

Although primary healthcare practitioners held positive attitudes towards pharmacist clinics, limited knowledge, low confidence, and high workload contributed to the scarcity of their implementation. Practitioners with diverse sociodemographic characteristics, such as education, age, and institution, showed varying perceptions and practices regarding pharmacist clinics.

Developing a quality framework for community pharmacy: a systematic review of international literature

OBJECTIVE

To identify the defining features of the quality of community pharmacy (CP) services and synthesise these into an evidence-based quality framework.

DESIGN

Systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

DATA SOURCES

International research evidence (2005 onwards) identified from six electronic databases (Embase, PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science and PsycINFO) was reviewed systematically from October 2022 to January 2023. Search terms related to 'community pharmacy' and 'quality'.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES

Titles and abstracts were screened against inclusion or exclusion criteria, followed by full-text screening by at least two authors. Qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method studies relevant to quality in CP were included.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

A narrative synthesis was undertaken. Following narrative synthesis, a patient and public involvement event was held to further refine the quality framework.

RESULTS

Following the title and abstract screening of 11 493 papers, a total of 81 studies (qualitative and quantitative) were included. Of the 81 included studies, 43 investigated quality dimensions and/or factors influencing CP service quality; 21 studies assessed patient satisfaction with and/or preferences for CP, and 17 studies reported the development and assessment of quality indicators, standards and guidelines for CPs, which can help define quality.The quality framework emerging from the global literature consisted of six dimensions: person-centred care, access, environment, safety, competence and integration within local healthcare systems. Quality was defined as having timely and physical access to personalised care in a suitable environment that is safe and effective, with staff competent in the dispensing process and pharmacy professionals possessing clinical knowledge and diagnostic skills to assess and advise patients relative to pharmacists' increasingly clinical roles.

CONCLUSION

The emerging framework could be used to measure and improve the quality of CP services. Further research and feasibility testing are needed to validate the framework according to the local healthcare context.

Community pharmacists' readiness to take action to improve working conditions

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to assess pharmacists' readiness to take actions resulting in change at the individual level or systemic level.

DESIGN/SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS/OUTCOME MEASURES

An online survey was distributed via pharmacy-related social media pages and several state pharmacy association newsletters and e-mail listservs. Fifteen items assessed participants' readiness to pursue change using a 5-point scale based on the transtheoretical model of behavior change (1 = Do not plan on doing, 2 = Plan to take in the next 6 months, 3 = Plan to take in the next month, 4 = Took in the past 6 months, 5 = Took more than 6 months ago). Categorical principal components analysis (CATPCA) was used as a data reduction technique to identify underlying components of the 15 items assessing readiness to improve working conditions. Component scores for each component were calculated and used as dependent variables in multivariable linear regression models to test associations between the components and sociodemographic and work-related predictors.

RESULTS

CATPCA revealed a 12-item scale with 2 components accounting for 39.97% of the total variance. Pharmacists working in independent pharmacies had a significantly higher willingness than chain pharmacists to pursue actions with potential to result in systemic-level changes, such as contacting or joining an organization to attempt to improve their current working conditions (regression coefficient = 0.623, P < 0.001). Pharmacists working in independent pharmacies had a significantly lower willingness than chain pharmacists to pursue actions resulting in individual-level changes, such as changing their current job or quitting (regression coefficient = -0.485, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Pharmacists working in national chains may be less willing than independent pharmacists to pursue systemic-level changes owing to fear of discipline from employers. Future research should examine the effect of interventions intended to increase pharmacists' motivation and readiness to pursue changes to improve working conditions.

Primary health care roles of community pharmacists in low- and middle-income countries: A protocol for a mixed methods systematic review

BACKGROUND

The roles of community pharmacists in primary health care cannot be overemphasized, these professionals have evolved from the traditional dispensing to providing health promotion, vaccination services, and medication therapy management as well as other areas of patient care needs. The objectives of this review are to explore evidence of the provision of primary health care services by community pharmacists in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and identify barriers to these services and how these barriers can be mitigated.

METHOD

A systematic search will be conducted in Medline, CINAHL, Google scholar, Global Index Medicus, LILACS, and CENTRAL to identify potentially relevant primary literature for inclusion. Also, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses will be search to identify relevant gray literature. The review will be guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols checklist for systematic reviews. All primary research articles regardless of study design exploring or reporting on community pharmacists' involvement in primary health care in LMICs will be considered for possible inclusion. A summary of the included studies will be provided and a quality assessment will be conducted using the 2018 version of the mixed methods analytical tool.

EXPECTED RESULTS

Findings from this review will add to the evidence in the literature and cause the need for policy change to empower the community pharmacy practice by providing a friendlier legal framework for delivering services in tandem with international best practices. PROSPERO registration ID: CRD42023357312.

Hepatitis C screening in a community pharmacy setting: Patient perspective

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an infection of the liver, which contributes to over 15,000 deaths in the United States annually. When treated, HCV has a 90% or greater cure rate, however testing for HCV remains low.

OBJECTIVES

To assess patient perspectives on HCV screenings in the community pharmacy setting including awareness of screening, willingness to be screened, barriers to screening, and willingness to pay for HCV screening.

METHODS

This study used a cross-sectional survey design. The surveys were distributed by staff at an independent community pharmacy participating in an HCV screening initiative through the state department of public health. Eligible patients were born between 1945 and 1965. Descriptive statistics were calculated for survey variables. Open-ended responses were analyzed for additional context.

RESULTS

Fifty-seven surveys were returned and analyzed. The majority of the respondents were White (94%), female (56%), and had some college education (26%). Only 7% were aware that a finger-stick point-of-care test was available and 67% were unaware of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation for testing. The most frequently reported barrier or hesitation to screening was the patient not thinking they were at risk (29%) followed by uncertainty about cost (14%). Over half of respondents (63%) were either somewhat interested or very interested in testing in a community pharmacy, however, the majority (71%) were not willing to pay or only willing to pay less than $20.

CONCLUSIONS

Survey respondents were largely unaware of the recommendations and availability of finger-stick HCV screenings at community pharmacies but many were willing to be tested if low-cost. Providing patient education on the importance of HCV screenings and CDC recommendations may bolster interest in screening.

Public Perception of Pharmacists in Poland

Background. Pharmacists constitute one of the largest groups of medical professionals and play a significant role in public health. Pharmaceutical care in community pharmacies is one of the key elements that impact the clinical outcomes of patients. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the public perception of pharmacists in Poland, as well as the knowledge of and willingness of Polish people to use pharmaceutical care services. Methods. This study was carried out in 2017 on 1435 people. The research tool was an anonymous online questionnaire. Results. Of the participants, 61% considered pharmacists to have a position of public trust, and 25% trusted pharmacists to a lesser extent than representatives of other medical professions. The participants stated that pharmacists were kind (74%) and helpful (69%). For 52% of the participants, pharmacists were fully competent to provide information on medications. Twenty-eight percent of the participants ask pharmacists for advice related to medicinal products. Poles’ knowledge on pharmaceutical care was low (44% of the respondents knew this notion). Sixty-six percent of the participants were willing to use pharmaceutical consultations (43% free of charge, and 23% for a nominal fee). Conclusions. Although the overall perception of patients towards pharmacists was positive in Poland, it is essential to educate patients on the possibilities of using pharmaceutical services, and to promote the role of pharmacists in healthcare systems.

Perception of community pharmacists about the work process of drug dispensing: a cross-sectional survey study

Background

Drug dispensing aims to promote rational medicine use. However, in many countries, the work processes are still not well defined. In this sense, the perception of pharmacists about dispensing practices presents an overview of how the service is being performed in the country and its main challenges. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the self-reported work process of Brazilian community pharmacists in relation to drug dispensing, challenges, and strategies for carrying out the service.

Method

A cross-sectional survey was conducted between May and July 2021, with community pharmacists from all regions of Brazil. Pharmacists were invited to answer a validated, self-administered questionnaire, implemented through Google Forms, containing 33 questions related to the steps of drug dispensing (questions and counseling) and the main challenges and strategies to perform the service. The data were exported to Microsoft Office Excel and SPSS®. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to assess the association between responses and demographic information, with a significance level of less than 5% (p < 0.05). This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee (number: 4.295.171).

Results

A total of 625 community pharmacists responded to the survey. Most pharmacists reported always or frequently performing 17 (54%) of the 31 steps described in the instrument. The steps that pharmacists reported performing more frequently were forming the medication name (n = 569, 91.04%), verifying the completeness and adequacy of the prescription according to current legislation (n = 567, 90.72%) and providing counseling on dosage (n = 549, 87.84%). Documentation was the main step in which pharmacists reported never or rarely performing (n = 424, 67.84%). The results showed that there was a significant influence of the variables of public education institution, age, and postgraduate education on the frequency of dispensing steps (F(3, 621) = 14.884, p < 0.001; R²_ajdusted = 0,063).

Conclusion

This study showed that most pharmacists reported always or frequently asking most of the questions and performing counseling contained in the instrument during drug dispensing. These results can contribute to an understanding of current dispensing practices and generate insights for developing strategies to qualify the service.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-022-07528-y.

Health Care Professionals' Herpes Zoster Awareness and Vaccine Recommendations for Patients with COPD

Objectives

The objective of this study was to assess health care professionals' (HCPs) knowledge of an increased herpes zoster (HZ) risk and burden for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), HCPs' familiarity with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' (ACIP) HZ vaccine recommendations, and the HCPs' current adult vaccine practices. Another objective was to evaluate the impact of a short educational video on knowledge and future vaccine intent.

Participants and Methods

An online survey of family physicians (FPs), pulmonologists, nurse practitioners (NPs), and physician assistants (PAs) querying demographics, awareness of ACIP HZ vaccine recommendations, and HZ burdens and risks in patients with COPD and their current recommendations for HZ, influenza, and pneumococcal vaccines was conducted. For those not strongly recommending HZ vaccines concordant with ACIP recommendations, a 5-minute educational video was presented, and post video questions assessed future intended HZ vaccine recommendations.

Results

Among 1020 HCP responders, awareness and ACIP concordant HZ vaccine recommendations ranged from 59.0% to 95.2% across HCPs. Lowest recommendation rates were consistently reported by pulmonologists for the 2-dose HZ vaccine beginning at age 50; for the 2-dose vaccine use in those with prior 1-dose HZ vaccinations, and for those with prior HZ. Among all HCPs, HZ vaccine recommendations were lower than for pneumococcal and influenza vaccines. After viewing the educational video, reported vaccine recommendation intent increased significantly in all groups of HCPs, as did awareness of increased HZ risk among patients with COPD.

Conclusions

Significant educational opportunities exist for HCPs related to HZ and its vaccine prevention among patients with COPD which may be responsive to brief, targeted interventions.

Strategies for implementing the Appointment-Based Model at a rural independent chain of community pharmacies

BACKGROUND

The Appointment-Based Model (ABM) is a care model that helps community pharmacists streamline their medication dispensing workflow while simultaneously integrating patient care into the medication preparation process through medication synchronization. Implementation of the ABM has varied across community pharmacies. Further studies that identify tailored implementation approaches are needed to support broad adoption of the ABM in practice.

OBJECTIVES

(1) To determine facilitators and barriers to ongoing adoption and implementation of the ABM at a small chain of rural independent pharmacies where adoption has stalled and (2) to identify implementation strategies to support further adoption of the ABM at these pharmacies METHODS: This project was an exploratory, mid-implementation study. Semistructured interviews were conducted with pharmacy staff who participated in the ongoing implementation and use of the ABM at the pharmacies. Interviews elicited stakeholder-centered perspectives on (1) experiences with the ABM to date, (2) processes and roles for the ABM, and (3) opinions on how implementation of the ABM could be improved at the pharmacies. Rapid qualitative assessment methodology was used for analysis to identify facilitators and barriers and to select implementation strategies.

RESULTS

Thirty-one pharmacy personnel were interviewed: pharmacists (n = 10), pharmacy technicians (n = 7), and fill clerks (n = 14). The research team identified 6 facilitators and 4 barriers to the implementation of the ABM at the pharmacies. Five implementation strategies were selected based on the facilitators and barriers: (1) capture and share local knowledge across pharmacy sites, (2) conduct educational outreach visits, (3) conduct ongoing training, (4) prepare patients to be active participants in the ABM, and (5) organize clinician implementation team meetings.

CONCLUSIONS

Development of a stakeholder-driven implementation approach may support further implementation and adoption of the ABM in practice.

Community pharmacists in Virginia dispensing naloxone under a standing order: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND

In 2016, the Virginia Health Commissioner signed a standing order into law allowing licensed pharmacists to dispense opioid receptor antagonists (ORAs) for overdose reversal.

OBJECTIVES

Using the theory of planned behavior as an initial guide to study development, the aim of this qualitative study was to explore community pharmacists' attitudes, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral intention toward dispensing ORAs under a standing order in Virginia.

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with community pharmacists across the Commonwealth between June 2018 and October 2019. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analyzed.

RESULTS

Twenty-one community pharmacists were interviewed. Pharmacists were confused about the specifics and the processes involved with dispensing naloxone under the standing order. Furthermore, many recognized the underuse of the standing order. Positive attitudes focused on the life-saving action of ORAs. Negative attitudes included encouraging risky behaviors by patients, negatively affecting the patient-pharmacist relationship, offending or contributing to stigmatizing patrons, and having liability issues to the pharmacy. Subjective norms regarding dispensing of ORAs under the standing order were perceived to be favorable among peer pharmacists and primary care and emergency department physicians but may be seen as profit-seeking by patients. Barriers to service provision included lack of guidance from corporate offices (in chain pharmacies), inadequate training, patient out-of-pocket costs, reimbursement issues, inadequate staffing and time, and stigma. Facilitators comprised the existence of practice site-specific protocols, the REVIVE! training, technician support, increased community awareness, physician collaboration, pharmacist training, and employer guidance. Whereas some pharmacists intended to become more familiarized with the standing order, others did not intend to actively identify patients who were at risk of an opioid overdose.

CONCLUSION

Pharmacists expressed mixed behavioral intention toward dispensing ORAs under the standing order. Future research should focus on quantifying the uptake of the standing order at the state level.

Inequities in access to primary care among opioid recipients in Ontario, Canada: A population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

Stigma and high-care needs can present barriers to the provision of high-quality primary care for people with opioid use disorder (OUD) and those prescribed opioids for chronic pain. We explored the likelihood of securing a new primary care provider (PCP) among people with varying histories of opioid use who had recently lost access to their PCP.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using linked administrative data among residents of Ontario, Canada whose enrolment with a physician practicing in a primary care enrolment model (PEM) was terminated between January 2016 and December 2017. We assigned individuals to 3 groups based upon their opioid use on the date enrolment ended: long-term opioid pain therapy (OPT), opioid agonist therapy (OAT), or no opioid. We fit multivariable models assessing the primary outcome of primary care reattachment within 1 year, adjusting for demographic characteristics, clinical comorbidities, and health services utilization. Secondary outcomes included rates of emergency department (ED) visits and opioid toxicity events. Among 154,970 Ontarians who lost their PCP, 1,727 (1.1%) were OAT recipients, 3,644 (2.4%) were receiving long-term OPT, and 149,599 (96.5%) had no recent prescription opioid exposure. In general, OAT recipients were younger (median age 36) than those receiving long-term OPT (59 years) and those with no recent prescription opioid exposure (44 years). In all exposure groups, the majority of individuals had their enrolment terminated by their physician (range 78.1% to 88.8%). In the primary analysis, as compared to those not receiving opioids, OAT recipients were significantly less likely to find a PCP within 1 year (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.50 to 0.61, p < 0.0001). We observed no significant difference between long-term OPT and opioid unexposed individuals (aHR 0.96; 95% CI 0.92 to 1.01, p = 0.12). In our secondary analysis comparing the period of PCP loss to the year prior, we found that rates of ED visits were elevated among people not receiving opioids (adjusted rate ratio (aRR) 1.20, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.22, p < 0.0001) and people receiving long-term OPT (aRR 1.37, 95% CI 1.28 to 1.48, p < 0.0001). We found no such increase among OAT recipients, and no significant increase in opioid toxicity events in the period following provider loss for any exposure group. The main limitation of our findings relates to their generalizability outside of PEMs and in jurisdictions with different financial incentives incorporated into primary care provision.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we observed gaps in access to primary care among people who receive prescription opioids, particularly among OAT recipients. Ongoing efforts are needed to address the stigma, discrimination, and financial disincentives that may introduce barriers to the healthcare system, and to facilitate access to high-quality, consistent primary care services for chronic pain patients and those with OUD.

Systematic review of pragmatic randomised control trials assessing the effectiveness of professional pharmacy services in community pharmacies

BACKGROUND

Implementation of Professional Pharmacy Services (PPSs) requires a demonstration of the service's impact (efficacy) and its effectiveness. Several systematic reviews and randomised controlled trials (RCT) have shown the efficacy of PPSs in patient's outcomes in community pharmacy. There is, however, a need to determine the level of evidence on the effectiveness of PPSs in daily practice by means of pragmatic trials. To identify and analyse pragmatic RCTs that measure the effectiveness of PPSs in clinical, economic and humanistic outcomes in the community pharmacy setting.

METHODS

A systematic search was undertaken in MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library and SCIELO. The search was performed on January 31, 2020. Papers were assessed against the following inclusion criteria (1) The intervention could be defined as a PPS; (2) Undertaken in a community pharmacy setting; (3) Was an original paper; (4) Reported quantitative measures of at least one health outcome indicator (ECHO model); (5) The design was considered as a pragmatic RCT, that is, it fulfilled 3 predefined attributes. External validity was analyzed with PRECIS- 2 tool.

RESULTS

The search strategy retrieved 1,587 papers. A total of 12 pragmatic RCTs assessing 5 different types of PPSs were included. Nine out of the 12 papers showed positive statistically significant differences in one or more of the primary outcomes (clinical, economic or humanistic) that could be associated with the following PPS: Smoking cessation, Dispensing/Adherence service, Independent prescribing and MTM. No paper reported on cost-effectiveness outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

There is limited available evidence on the effectiveness of community-based PPS. Pragmatic RCTs to evaluate clinical, humanistic and economic outcomes of PPS are needed.