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Pharmacists' naloxone offering and dispensing practices
Tanvee Thakur1, Mercedes Kile2, Betty Chewning3
1Social and Administrative Sciences Division, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy, Madison, Wisconsin.
Journal of Opioid Management
|April 27, 2022
Summary
Pharmacists rarely offer or dispense naloxone, despite high stocking rates. Training in overdose risk screening and communication is needed to improve naloxone access.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacy Practice
- Public Health
- Opioid Overdose Prevention
Background:
- Naloxone is crucial for reversing opioid overdoses.
- Understanding pharmacists' roles in naloxone distribution is vital for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess pharmacists' naloxone offering and dispensing practices.
- To identify factors influencing these practices.
- To refine a survey instrument for measuring these behaviors.
Main Methods:
- A statewide mail survey of Wisconsin pharmacists was conducted.
- Stratified random sampling ensured representative participant selection.
- Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were used for data analysis.
Main Results:
- Most pharmacies stocked naloxone (92.9%), with 80.1% operating under a standing order.
- A majority of pharmacists rarely or never offered (50.8%) or dispensed (67.6%) naloxone.
- Confidence in initiating conversations about naloxone was high, but confidence in screening at-risk patients was low.
Conclusions:
- Pharmacists' offering and dispensing of naloxone remain infrequent despite availability.
- Enhanced training in patient overdose risk screening and communication strategies is recommended.
- Interventions should focus on improving pharmacists' confidence and skills in naloxone counseling.
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