Community-Based Pharmacists' Needs for HIV-Related Training and Experience

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Community pharmacists play a vital role in patient care.
• The increasing prevalence of HIV necessitates specialized pharmacist knowledge.
• Current pharmacist training may not adequately prepare them for HIV care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess pharmacists' self-perceived competence in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) care.
• To identify specific training and experience gaps for pharmacists serving people living with HIV (PLWH).

Main Methods:

• Qualitative interviews conducted with 28 community-based pharmacists.
• Participants were located in four Midwestern cities.
• Focus on pharmacists providing care to people living with HIV (PLWH).

Main Results:

• Only 46% of pharmacists felt competent in providing care to people living with HIV (PLWH).
• Less than a third (29%) had prior experience with PLWH during pharmacy residency.
• Training needs varied: specialty pharmacists require advanced knowledge (infections, comorbidities), while nonspecialty pharmacists need foundational HIV treatment and communication skills.

Conclusions:

• Pharmacists can significantly contribute to the healthcare team for people living with HIV (PLWH) with comprehensive knowledge beyond dispensing.
• Pharmacy education, including curricula and continuing professional development, must be updated.
• Aligning education with community pharmacists' needs will enhance their capacity to provide optimal HIV care.