Browsing by Subject "pharmacists"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    Integration of prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMP) in pharmacy practice: Improving clinical decision-making and supporting a pharmacist's professional judgment
    (Elsevier B.V., 2015-06-06) Norwood, Connor W.; Wright, Eric R.
    Background Pharmacists have shared responsibility to investigate the validity of controlled substance prescriptions (CSPs) that raise concerns, or red flags, and subsequently exercise their right to refuse to dispense a CSP if its validity cannot be verified. Improving access to clinical practice tools, such as prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs), may increase availability of a patient's drug history, which is critical to making informed clinical decisions about dispensing CSPs. Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine how integration and consistent use of a PDMP in pharmacy practice impacts pharmacists' dispensing practices related to CSPs. Methods A cross-sectional study examined pharmacists' knowledge and use of Indiana's (US State) PDMP (INSPECT) and dispensing practices of CSPs. Three outcome measures were analyzed using multiple logistic regression so as to examine the relationship between PDMP use and pharmacists' controlled substance dispensing behaviors. Results Pharmacists were 6.4 times more likely to change their dispensing practice to dispense fewer CSPs if they reported that INSPECT provides increased access to patient information. Pharmacists who always use INSPECT refused an average of 25 CSPs annually compared to an average of 7 refusals for pharmacists not using INSPECT. Pharmacists using INSEPCT consistently (at every visit) were 3.3 times more likely to refuse to dispense more CSPs than pharmacists who report never using INSPECT. Conclusions Integration of PDMPs in pharmacy practice may improve a pharmacist's ability to make informed clinical decisions and exercise sound professional judgment. Providing clinical practice tools to both prescribers and pharmacists is important to preventing drug diversion and prescription drug abuse. Future research should focus on understanding the barriers and challenges to successful integration of PDMPs in pharmacy practice.
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    Review and evaluation of the role of a psychiatric pharmacist on medication management in a gender health program
    (ACCP, 2022-12) Wartman, Carolanne; Walroth, Todd A.; Butterfield, David; Anderson, Lindsey; Peters, Michael; Schmelz, Andrew; Ott, Carol; Psychiatry, School of Medicine
    Introduction People who identify as transgender experience a significant amount of mental health concerns compared to the general population. Gender health programs offer the opportunity to provide comprehensive care for this highly stigmatized population, with the potential for psychiatric pharmacists to assist other providers and serve this need. This study aimed to evaluate the number and type of interventions made by a psychiatric pharmacist within a gender health program. Methods A retrospective review of the electronic medical record was conducted analyzing mental health visits completed by psychiatric pharmacists within the Gender Health Program between May 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021. The primary outcome was number and type of interventions, defined as medication adjustments, laboratory monitoring, and completion of prior authorizations. Secondary outcomes included a description of medication regimens, number and type of patient education provided, and referrals to other healthcare professionals. Key subgroup analyses consisted of number of interventions based on gender identity, race identity, and insurance status. Results There were a total of 152 appointments among 93 patients. Sixty-one patients (66%) received at least one intervention [median (interquartile range, IQR) of 2 (2, 4)], which occurred across 81 pharmacist appointments (53%). Psychotropic medications were adjusted at 79 appointments (97%), with primarily medication initiations. Patient education was completed and documented at 102 appointments with a median (IQR) of 2 (1, 2) topics discussed per appointment. There was a statistically significant difference found between transmen and transwomen on number of interventions [31 (67%) vs 15 (45%), P = 0.048]. Conclusion The pharmacist in this study had the opportunity to bridge gaps in access to care to healthcare providers by initiating and managing medications, providing thorough education, and referring patients to further resources. This study affirms the accessibility and role of a psychiatric pharmacist on the interdisciplinary team caring for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, and more (LGBTQ+) patients.
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    Virtual Coaching Delivered by Pharmacists to Prevent COVID-19 Transmission
    (SAGE Journals, 2021-07-10) Abdel-Qader, Derar H.; Al Meslamani, Ahmad Z.; Al Mazrouei, Nadia; El-Shara, Asma A.; El Sharu, Husam; Merghani Ali, Eman; Mohammed Ebaed, Samah Bahy; Mohamed Ibrahim, Osama; Center for Health Innovation and Implementation Science
    Background: While the role of pharmacists in the current pandemic control has been recognized worldwide, their coaching efforts to improve public’s behaviors that could prevent COVID-19 transmission has been rarely investigated. Objectives: To assess whether pharmacist-based virtual health coaching sessions could increase the proportion of people who practised healthy social behaviors, to test whether this model can increase the public acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines, and to measure whether these behaviors could actually prevent contracting COVID-19. Method: In this randomized controlled trial, adults who matched specific criteria were randomly allocated into 2 arms. The active arm received 12 pharmacist-based virtual coaching sessions delivered via Zoom® over a month. Participants allocated to the control arm received no coaching. At the end of the last coaching session, both groups were asked to complete a structured questionnaire for outcome assessment. Participants in the active group were followed up to 2 weeks after the end of the last coaching session to check if they contracted COVID-19 or not. The SPSS software version 26.0 (IBM Corp., Chicago, IL) was used for statistical analysis. Results: Of the 300 participants who gave consent for participation, 295 completed the study (147 from the active arm and 148 from the control arm). The proportion of those using face masks, avoiding crowds, and willing to be isolated if infected in the active arm was increased from 51.70%, 53.74%, and 59.86% at baseline to 91.83%, 80.27%, and 96.59% at the end of coaching, respectively (all with P < .05). In addition, the proportion of behaviors, such as disinfecting surfaces, not touching the T-zone, and avoid sharing personal belongings with colleagues at work was increased from 36.05%, 27.89%, and 46.93% at baseline to 63.94%, 52.38%, and 87.75% at the end of coaching, respectively (all with P < .05). Avoid touching the T-zone (OR = 0.43; 95% CI, 0.24-0.89) and using disposable tissues (OR = 0.30; 95% CI, 0.18-0.77), each versus using face masks appropriately were more likely to get COVID-19. Conclusion: Pharmacist-based virtual health coaching could be a potential strategy to increase the proportion of behaviors that could curtail the spread of COVID-19.