Research in social & administrative pharmacy : RSAP
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Res Social Adm Pharm · Aug 2019
Challenges faced with opioid prescriptions in the community setting - Australian pharmacists' perspectives.
Prescription opioids (POs) are well recognised for their role in pain management. However over recent years, use of POs has become an increasingly complex public health issue, with the emergence of increasing quantities of POs being misused and abused. Pharmacists represent the 'gatekeepers' of medicines, which can be a challenging role, relating in particular to POs. ⋯ Education is required to emphasise the importance of inter-professional collaboration between pharmacists and prescribers, as is empathy in the pharmacist-patient relationship. Prescription drug monitoring programs and prescribers sending electronic prescriptions directly to the pharmacist were perceived as helpful initiatives to undertake.
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Res Social Adm Pharm · Aug 2019
Physician-pharmacist collaboration on chronic non-cancer pain management during the opioid crisis: A qualitative interview study.
Management of chronic non-cancer pain is complex, requiring clinicians to balance pain management with the risk of opioid abuse. The role of ambulatory care pharmacists in chronic pain management is well-established, but little research has explored the feasibility of building collaboration on chronic pain and opioid management between physicians and community pharmacists. ⋯ Within the study sample, strong interest exists for collaboration between physicians and community pharmacists. This highlights a potential opportunity to expand care for patients with chronic non-cancer pain.
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Res Social Adm Pharm · Aug 2019
Moving opioid misuse prevention upstream: A pilot study of community pharmacists screening for opioid misuse risk.
Prescription opioids are known to be highly addictive, contributing to the opioid epidemic which continues to besiege victims in the United States. Pharmacists are gatekeepers straddling the prescribers of opioids and their patients; therefore they are in the ideal position to screen for opioid misuse among patients receiving opioid prescriptions and counsel them on safe use. ⋯ This case report demonstrated the utility and the feasibility of screening for opioid misuse risk at the community pharmacy level.
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Res Social Adm Pharm · Aug 2019
Communication between pharmacists and primary care physicians in the midst of a U.S. opioid crisis.
Effective communication between prescribers of opioids and community pharmacists can contribute to maximizing appropriate pain management and reducing opioid misuse and diversion. While much of the education and training available on reducing opioid misuse and diversion stresses the importance of interprofessional communication between prescribers and pharmacists, few studies have been explored those communication patterns directly. ⋯ Physician and pharmacist communication around opioids can be mutually beneficial. When prescribers and pharmacists are co-located, higher levels of trust and teamwork are reported, which in turn seems to be related to more open and positive communication. Additional research is needed to identify interventions to increase mutually-valued communication that improves the quality of decision-making around opioids.
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Res Social Adm Pharm · Aug 2019
How prepared are pharmacists to provide over-the-counter naloxone? The role of previous education and new training opportunities.
and Aims: Opioid overdose can be reversed with timely administration of naloxone. In Australia, naloxone was rescheduled from prescription only (S4) to pharmacist only over-the-counter (OTC, S3) in February 2016, increasing access for the general public. A key barrier to naloxone supply by pharmacists is a lack of knowledge, highlighting the role of pharmacist education. Community pharmacists' education, experience, and training preferences related to naloxone provision, overdose, and substance use disorder were examined. ⋯ Most community pharmacists in Australia are willing to attend training on providing naloxone and preventing opioid overdose. There are opportunities to develop and expand the online presence of training, guidelines, and education materials to facilitate the expanded supply of OTC naloxone.