The minivisit method: Adapting opioid-related educational outreach for community pharmacies

Community pharmacists are well-positioned to contribute to public health initiatives related to prescription opioid safety and naloxone access, but many barriers, including gaps in knowledge and confidence, prevent them from fully engaging with their patients and communities on these topics. The Kentucky site of the HEALing (Helping to End Addiction Long-term Initiative) Communities Study sought to involve community pharmacists in the effort to prevent opioid-related overdose deaths. Throughout the study, strategies to provide in-person educational outreach to community pharmacists were developed, implemented, and redesigned, resulting in a new format: the minivisit method. Minivisits are based on the principles of academic detailing but aim to more efficiently meet the needs of busy community pharmacists. Implemented by pharmacists for pharmacists, minivisits deliver key messages in brief, unscheduled visits to all community pharmacies in an identified geographic area. Paired with on-going support, high-quality printed materials, and in-depth continuing education activities, minivisits offer a promising alternative to traditional education formats. The minivisit method can be adapted to the goals, budget, and educational needs of a given program. This commentary details the trial-and-error process by which minivisits were developed and implemented and the key components of the minivisit method. The aim of this commentary is to inspire and inform future efforts to educate community pharmacists and expand practice to improve public health.