Pharmacists' perceptions of Healthy People goals in economically stressed cities

Pharmacy Staff Perspectives on Alcohol and Medication Interaction Prevention Among Older Rural Adults

Older adults are at high risk for alcohol and medication interactions (AMI). Pharmacies have the potential to act as ideal locations for AMI education, as pharmacy staff play an important role in the community. This study examined the perspectives of pharmacy staff on AMI prevention programming messaging, potential barriers to and facilitators of older adult participation in such programming, and dissemination methods for AMI prevention information. Flyers, telephone calls, and site visits were used to recruit 31 pharmacy staff members who participated in semistructured interviews. A content analysis of interview transcriptions was conducted to identify major themes, categories, and subcategories. The main categories identified for AMI prevention messaging were Informational, Health Significance, and Recommendations. Within barriers to participation, the main categories identified were Health Illiteracy, Personal Attitudes, and Feasibility. The main categories identified for program facilitators were Understanding, Beneficial Consequences, and Practicality. Multimethod dissemination strategies were commonly suggested. This study found positive pharmacy staff perspectives for the planning and implementation of AMI prevention programming, and future development and feasibility testing of such programming in the pharmacy setting is warranted.

Community pharmacy staff perceptions on preventing alcohol and medication interactions in older adults

OBJECTIVES

To examine rural and urban pharmacy staff perceptions on messaging, barriers, and motivators for preventing alcohol and medication interactions (AMI) in older adults (≥65 years of age).

METHODS

A survey was distributed through the local pharmacist association and statewide pharmacy registry in Kentucky. A total of 255 responses were received from pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy students.

RESULTS

Across rural and urban regions alike, among the AMI prevention messages provided, participants identified the most important messages to be: AMI can be potentially dangerous and life threatening; emergency rooms should be used when experiencing an AMI; and doctors and pharmacists should be consulted about AMI. The most common AMI prevention barriers indicated were stigma, costs, and low perceived risks. The most common AMI prevention motivators indicated were physical health improvement, promoting a healthy lifestyle, convenient setting, and financial incentives.

CONCLUSION

Regardless of geography, participants similarly rated the presented AMI prevention messages, barriers, and motivators. With the use of these findings, the development of an AMI prevention program is suggested to use messaging about AMI threat, behavioral management, and behavioral prevention.

Public health in community pharmacy: a systematic review of pharmacist and consumer views

Background

The increasing involvement of pharmacists in public health will require changes in the behaviour of both pharmacists and the general public. A great deal of research has shown that attitudes and beliefs are important determinants of behaviour. This review aims to examine the beliefs and attitudes of pharmacists and consumers towards pharmaceutical public health in order to inform how best to support and improve this service.

Methods

Five electronic databases were searched for articles published in English between 2001 and 2010. Titles and abstracts were screened by one researcher according to the inclusion criteria. Papers were included if they assessed pharmacy staff or consumer attitudes towards pharmaceutical public health. Full papers identified for inclusion were assessed by a second researcher and data were extracted by one researcher.

Results

From the 5628 papers identified, 63 studies in 67 papers were included. Pharmacy staff: Most pharmacists viewed public health services as important and part of their role but secondary to medicine related roles. Pharmacists' confidence in providing public health services was on the whole average to low. Time was consistently identified as a barrier to providing public health services. Lack of an adequate counselling space, lack of demand and expectation of a negative reaction from customers were also reported by some pharmacists as barriers. A need for further training was identified in relation to a number of public health services. Consumers: Most pharmacy users had never been offered public health services by their pharmacist and did not expect to be offered. Consumers viewed pharmacists as appropriate providers of public health advice but had mixed views on the pharmacists' ability to do this. Satisfaction was found to be high in those that had experienced pharmaceutical public health

Conclusions

There has been little change in customer and pharmacist attitudes since reviews conducted nearly 10 years previously. In order to improve the public health services provided in community pharmacy, training must aim to increase pharmacists' confidence in providing these services. Confident, well trained pharmacists should be able to offer public health service more proactively which is likely to have a positive impact on customer attitudes and health.