North Carolina community pharmacists' buprenorphine dispensing practices and attitudes
- PMID: 35643625
- DOI: 10.1016/j.japh.2022.04.019
North Carolina community pharmacists' buprenorphine dispensing practices and attitudes
Abstract
Background: Many barriers, including stocking behaviors and pharmacist attitudes, can limit access to buprenorphine in pharmacy settings.
Objectives: To assess North Carolina (NC) pharmacists' (1) buprenorphine stocking behaviors, (2) awareness and interpretation of federal and state policy regarding buprenorphine, (3) perceptions about changes in buprenorphine demand, and (4) reasons for not dispensing buprenorphine, including attitudes.
Methods: A convenience sample of currently practicing community pharmacists was recruited to participate in a 10-minute online survey. The survey included demographic questions and assessed pharmacists' buprenorphine ordering, stocking, and dispensing behaviors. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and logistic regressions examined associations with whether pharmacists (1) had ever refused to fill a buprenorphine prescription and (2) perceived buprenorphine dispensing limits.
Results: The majority (96%) of respondents (n = 646, completion rate = 5.5%) kept buprenorphine in stock regularly or ordered it as needed, with generic formulations being stocked most often. Many pharmacists (62%) had refused to fill a buprenorphine prescription. Pharmacists with more negative buprenorphine attitudes were more likely to refuse to fill a buprenorphine prescription. Many pharmacists (31%) believed there were buprenorphine ordering limits, with wholesalers most commonly being perceived as the source. Pharmacists with more negative buprenorphine attitudes were more likely to perceive buprenorphine ordering limits, while pharmacists who worked at national chain, grocery or regional chains, and other pharmacy types were less likely to perceive ordering limits than independent pharmacies.
Conclusion: Although most pharmacies stocked buprenorphine products, pharmacists' refusal to dispense and perceived ordering limits could limit patient access. Refusal and perceived ordering limits were associated with pharmacist attitudes and pharmacy type. Training that addresses logistical and attitudinal barriers to dispensing buprenorphine may equip pharmacists to address buprenorphine access barriers.
Copyright © 2022 American Pharmacists Association®. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Similar articles
-
A Brief Online Training to Address Pharmacists' Willingness to Dispense Buprenorphine.J Addict Med. 2024 Jan-Feb 01;18(1):68-70. doi: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000001244. Epub 2023 Nov 10. J Addict Med. 2024. PMID: 37948129
-
Independent community pharmacists' attitudes and intentions toward dispensing buprenorphine/naloxone for opioid use disorder.J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2023 Sep-Oct;63(5):1558-1565.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2023.06.010. Epub 2023 Jun 16. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2023. PMID: 37331654
-
Pharmacists' naloxone services beyond community pharmacy settings: A systematic review.Res Social Adm Pharm. 2023 Feb;19(2):243-265. doi: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2022.09.002. Epub 2022 Sep 15. Res Social Adm Pharm. 2023. PMID: 36156267 Review.
-
Rural and small metro area naloxone-dispensing pharmacists' attitudes, experiences, and support for a frontline public health pharmacy role to increase naloxone uptake in New York State, 2019.J Subst Abuse Treat. 2021 Oct;129:108372. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108372. Epub 2021 Mar 27. J Subst Abuse Treat. 2021. PMID: 34080543 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Pharmacists' readiness to provide naloxone in community pharmacies in West Virginia.J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2017 Mar-Apr;57(2S):S12-S18.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2016.12.070. Epub 2017 Feb 2. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2017. PMID: 28163027 Free PMC article.
Cited by
-
Assessing suboxone access in community pharmacies: Secret shopper model.Explor Res Clin Soc Pharm. 2023 Nov 3;12:100356. doi: 10.1016/j.rcsop.2023.100356. eCollection 2023 Dec. Explor Res Clin Soc Pharm. 2023. PMID: 38023634 Free PMC article.
-
Naloxone analogy and opioid overdose terminology preferences among rural caregivers: Differences by race.J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2023 Sep-Oct;63(5):1521-1529.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2023.05.001. Epub 2023 May 4. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2023. PMID: 37149142 Free PMC article.
-
Factors in rural community buprenorphine dispensing.Explor Res Clin Soc Pharm. 2022 Dec 26;9:100204. doi: 10.1016/j.rcsop.2022.100204. eCollection 2023 Mar. Explor Res Clin Soc Pharm. 2022. PMID: 36703716 Free PMC article.
-
North Carolina pharmacists' willingness to sell fentanyl test strips: a survey study.Harm Reduct J. 2023 Jan 24;20(1):10. doi: 10.1186/s12954-023-00739-4. Harm Reduct J. 2023. PMID: 36694186 Free PMC article.
-
A content review of buprenorphine training programs for pharmacists.Explor Res Clin Soc Pharm. 2022 Jun 24;6:100154. doi: 10.1016/j.rcsop.2022.100154. eCollection 2022 Jun. Explor Res Clin Soc Pharm. 2022. PMID: 35813287 Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources