Handout use to facilitate opioid risk and safety communication in community pharmacies

A number of opioid handouts exist for pharmacists to use for patient education. However, there is limited evidence about what pharmacists most want them to cover and how useful pharmacists perceive them to be.

This study sought to (1) refine and revise an opioid safety handout to facilitate opioid risks and safety communication in community pharmacies and (2) assess the feasibility and acceptability of this tool using a statewide survey of community pharmacists.

In phase 1, 8 community pharmacists were interviewed to refine and evaluate the opioid safety handout. In phase 2, a statewide sample of 700 pharmacists were surveyed to identify acceptability and feasibility of using the revised handout. Survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis.

A total of 140 surveys were returned from community pharmacists. Over 60% of pharmacists reported that the handout would be useful in counseling patients on opioid risks and safety and would be a good opioid education tool for patients. Pharmacists who had practiced for many years (P = 0.002) and pharmacists who discussed safe opioid disposal and storage regularly (P = 0.002) reported a higher likelihood of using the handout. Pharmacists were much more likely to counsel patients on opioid risks and safety using this handout for a long-term opioid prescription than for a short-term opioid prescription.

A participatory research design successfully refined a handout for opioid risks and safety counseling, which the majority of pharmacists evaluated as feasible and useful for community pharmacists.