Need for community pharmacist-provided food-allergy education and auto-injectable epinephrine training

To determine whether community pharmacist-provided food-allergy education and auto-injectable epinephrine training is needed.

Cross-sectional assessment.

United States.

1,887 recently joined members of the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network.

Electronic survey.

35 items covering past education and training associated with food allergy and use of auto-injectable epinephrine, demographics, attitudes toward pharmacist-provided education about food allergy, training in the use of auto-injectable epinephrine, confidence in managing food allergies on a daily basis and in emergency situations, and the necessity for pharmacists to provide education and training about food allergy and auto-injectable epinephrine use.

Prescriber-provided food-allergy education and auto-injectable epinephrine training is incomplete (60.7%) or absent (16.3%) at the time auto-injectable epinephrine is first prescribed. These initial prescriptions are being dispensed from community pharmacies (94%), and written information is commonly provided with the medication (73.6%); however, oral counseling is largely absent (86.6%), and training in administration of auto-injectable epinephrine occurs infrequently (13.3%). Food-allergic patients and their care-givers are receptive to the idea of pharmacist-provided education and training. The majority (63.6% or more) feel confident about managing their food allergies. They are not requesting counseling when refill prescriptions are dispensed (81.4%); however, they would like to see routine review at refill time of the signs of allergic reaction (54.5%) and use of the epinephrine auto-injector (79.3%).

Community pharmacists have an opportunity to assist newly diagnosed food-allergic patients by working collaboratively with their pediatricians and allergists. Community pharmacists can provide ongoing assistance at refill time by retraining patients in the use of the epinephrine auto-injector and reviewing the signs of allergic reaction.