Browsing by Subject "Pharmacist prescriptive authority"

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    Patient Awareness, Perceptions, and Attitudes Towards Pharmacists Prescribing Tobacco Cessation Medications
    (Elsevier, 2023) Berry, Jonathan; Ellis Hilts, Katy; Thoma, Lynn; Corelli, Robin L.; Stump, Timothy E.; Monahan, Patrick O.; Suchanek Hudmon, Karen; Health Policy and Management, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health
    Background: Recent legislative advances now permit pharmacists to prescribe tobacco cessation medications in 17 states. While national initiatives are underway to prepare the pharmacy profession for this expanded role, patient perceptions of this role have not been explored. Objective: The objective of this study was to characterize patient perceptions, attitudes, and awareness of pharmacists prescribing for tobacco cessation medications. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of English and Spanish-speaking patients was conducted at 12 locations of a federally-qualified health center in Northwest Indiana. Survey measures assessed sociodemographics, tobacco use history and interest in quitting, prior interactions with pharmacists and awareness of pharmacists' ability to prescribe tobacco cessation medications, and perceptions of pharmacists assisting with cessation. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) served as a framework for item development. Multivariable logistic regression was used for modeling. Results: A total of 2082 individuals (1878 English, 204 Spanish) completed the survey (42.4%). Among current users (n = 592; 28.4%), 46.2% had made a quit attempt in the past year, and 41.0% reported having used a tobacco cessation medication in the past. Over half (60.5%) of current users would be comfortable talking with a pharmacist about quitting, 31.9% intended to talk with a pharmacist about quitting, and 31.7% intended to ask a pharmacist to prescribe a medicine to help with quitting. In multivariable modeling, intention to (a) talk with a pharmacist about quitting and (b) ask a pharmacist to prescribe a medication were significantly associated with TPB constructs. Current tobacco users were receptive to pharmacist-facilitated assistance with quitting, including prescribing of tobacco cessation medications. Conclusions: Patients' attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, from the Theory of Planned Behavior, were important predictors of intention to engage with pharmacists for quitting and intention to ask a pharmacist to prescribe a cessation medication.
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    Update and Recommendations: Pharmacists’ Prescriptive Authority for Tobacco Cessation Medications in the United States
    (Elsevier, 2022) Ellis Hilts, Katy; Corelli, Robin L.; Vernon, Veronica P.; Suchanek Hudmon, Karen; School of Nursing
    Objective: To characterize state laws in the U.S. regarding the expansion of pharmacists’ prescriptive authority for smoking cessation medications, compare key components across different models, and discuss important considerations for states that are considering similar legislation or policies. Data sources: Legislative language was reviewed and summarized for all states with pharmacist prescriptive authority for tobacco cessation medications, and state boards of pharmacy were contacted to determine the number of registered complaints or safety concerns received as a result of pharmacists’ prescribing under these authorities. Summary: As of June 2022, 17 states have enacted laws for pharmacists’ prescriptive authority for smoking cessation medications; most (n=16) have implemented procedures, and 1 is in the process of adopting a similar prescribing model. Of 16 states with fully delineated protocols, 8 (Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Vermont) include all medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for smoking cessation, and 8 (Arizona, Arkansas, California, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina) include nicotine replacement therapy medications only. Most protocols specify minimum cessation education requirements for pharmacists and define required intervention elements (e.g., screening, cessation intervention components, follow-up, and documentation requirements). Personal communications with state boards of pharmacy revealed no complaints or safety concerns regarding pharmacists’ prescribing for cessation medications since these authorities were first implemented, in New Mexico, in 2004. Conclusion: The number of states with pharmacists’ prescriptive authority for tobacco cessation medications has increased substantially in recent years. There have been no registered complaints or safety concerns since the inception of this expanded scope of practice. While the profession has made meaningful progress, there are inconsistencies across states with respect to medications that are included and requirements for implementing tobacco cessation services, which may impede broader adoption.