Aaron J. Lengel

Student pharmacists' perceptions of barriers to medication adherence counseling.

Purpose: To identify the barriers perceived by student pharmacists to counseling on medication adherence in a supermarket community pharmacy chain. Methods: Online surveys were made available to 65 student pharmacists. Subjects completed the survey anonymously and indicated their opinions and perceptions on topics related to medication adherence through the use of a 5-point Likert-type scale. Results: Of the surveyed student pharmacists, 26 completed the survey (40%). All participants (100%) agreed that they have knowledge on the importance of medication adherence. Student pharmacists stated that they did not have the time to cover adherence in a counseling session (72.7%) nor did they have time to perform follow-up phone calls with the patient (54.5%). The majority of student pharmacists (81.8%) were comfortable bringing up the topic of adherence with the patient but thought that they did not have access to resources on adherence to provide to the patient (59%). Conclusions: Surveyed students indicated they were constrained for time to counsel patients on adherence and to perform continued follow-up with patients afterward. Factors cited as barriers to counseling patients on medication adherence include time, lack of specific training in adherence management, lack of resources to provide to the patient, and patient disinterest in the subject.

Comparison of patient assistance program software

PURPOSE The capabilities of available software programs for the management of applications to patient assistance programs (PAPs) and associated administrative tasks are reported. SUMMARY Fifteen PAP software programs available at the time of data collection (July-September 2010) were identified through an Internet search and from e-mailed responses to a listserv request. To supplement and confirm the information obtained online, the software makers were contacted; additional data were collected through follow-up correspondence. The survey was restricted to standalone programs; all manufacturer-provided information was assumed to be accurate, and the products were not tested. The 15 software products evaluated (11 Web-based and 4 Windows-based programs) offered a wide range of capabilities to streamline the PAP application process, such as storage of patient and physician profiles, automatic completion of forms with stored data, application status tracking, and customized report generation. The Web-based programs offered some advantages over the Windows-based programs, including greater user accessibility and automatic updates. Product pricing varied widely, depending on the specific licensing terms. Some manufacturers offered discounts to health care organizations participating in the 340B Prime Vendor Program; some offered volume discounts. In addition, grant support may be available to help pay software licensing costs. CONCLUSION There are at least 15 software programs for streamlining and enhancing the process of PAP application management. No single program can meet the needs of every organization; selecting the right product demands a close look at the needs of an organization and the features and logistics of each program.

Impact of a Transitions of Care Training Module on Community Pharmacists’ Knowledge and Attitudes

Background: Community pharmacists’ accessibility to patient histories and personal patient relationships situates them to have a potentially significant impact on transitions of care. Recent literature has demonstrated that improved patient outcomes and an overall reduction in health care costs occur when pharmacists are involved in medication reconciliation during transitions of care. Objective: To develop a transitions of care training module for community pharmacists. To assess the training module’s impact on pharmacists’ transition of care knowledge and their attitude toward actively participating in the transitions of care for their patients. Methods: Community pharmacists practicing in a supermarket pharmacy chain participated in this study. A pretest and posttest were administered around a 30-minute transitions of care training module. The attitude assessment consisted of a 5-point Likert-type scale, while the knowledge-based assessment consisted of true/false and multiple-choice questions. SPSS version 21.0 was used to generate descriptive and nonparametric statistical analyses. The study was approved by the University of Toledo Social, Behavioral, and Educational Institutional Review Board. Results: Thirty-six pharmacists (72%) successfully completed the pre–post survey. The average pharmacist posttest knowledge survey score improved from the pretest score, 73% to 99%. A paired Student’s t test demonstrated the posttest percentage of correct questions on the knowledge-based survey improved from the baseline knowledge. Pharmacists’ average posttest attitudes regarding participation in patients’ transitions of care statistically improved compared to their pretest attitudes. Conclusion: Community pharmacists’ transitions of care knowledge and attitudes can be improved through a training module.

Impact of Pharmacist Follow-up Intervention on Patient Return to a Community Pharmacy From a Convenient Care Clinic

Background: Convenient Care Clinics (CCCs) located within the same facility as a retail pharmacy offer the opportunity for immediate fill of prescriptions from the CCC and may also provide a source of new customers for the pharmacy. Objective: To assess the impact of a follow-up intervention on new patients seen at a CCC returning to the pharmacy for subsequent prescription fills compared to the control group. Methods: New patients who filled a prescription from the CCC in November and December 2015 received an initial follow-up telephone call or letter, respectively, from the pharmacist within 10 days of their prescription fill date. The primary end point of the percentage of patient return was assessed for 3 months following the initial fill date. Secondary end points included number of prescriptions transferred and customer satisfaction scores. Results: Thirty-four out of 214 patients in the control group returned to the pharmacy for subsequent prescription fills (15.9%). Fourteen out of 52 patients in the telephone group returned to the pharmacy for additional prescription fills following a telephone call from the pharmacist. (26.9%, P = .063) Sixteen out of 77 patients in the letter group returned to the pharmacy after their first prescription. (20.8%, P = .329). Conclusions: Following-up with new patients to the pharmacy in the form of a personalized telephone call increases the likelihood of patients continuing to utilize the pharmacy for their prescription needs.

Impact of a Health Literacy Training Course on Community Pharmacists’ Health Literacy Knowledge and Attitudes

Background: According to the 2003 US Department of Education National Assessment of Adult Literacy, 36% of Americans have basic or below basic health literacy. Low health literacy has been shown to lead to worse health outcomes, higher overall medical costs, and patient and provider frustration. Objective: The objectives of this study were to assess the impact of a health literacy training course on community pharmacists’ health literacy knowledge and attitudes toward working with patients with low health literacy and to identify community pharmacists’ perspectives on the usefulness of the training course. Methods: An approximately 2-hour health literacy training course was developed, aimed at increasing pharmacists’ health literacy knowledge and providing methods to identify and communicate with patients with low health literacy. Pharmacists employed by a supermarket chain community pharmacy were asked to participate and complete an anonymous pre-survey and post-survey, consisting of knowledge-based questions (multiple choice and true/false format) and an attitude assessment (5-point Likert-type scale format). Demographic information was collected, and a course evaluation was included. Results: Forty-four of the 45 pharmacists who were asked to participate in the research study participated (98%). After participating in the health literacy training course, pharmacists’ average test scores on knowledge-based questions increased (69.89% vs 83.75%; P < .001), and their confidence and comfort levels toward working with patients with low health literacy in 5 specified areas improved. The majority of participating pharmacists felt that the training course provided them with helpful resources and communication methods and that it was useful to their practice setting. Conclusion: Educating community pharmacists about health literacy and about methods to improve their communication skills with patients with low health literacy could improve pharmacists’ ability to provide clinical services to such patients.