Exploratory analysis of pharmacist involvement in motivational interviewing intervention for patients with...

Community pharmacists are an underutilized resource to address opioid medication misuse (OMM) among patients. It is unknown in the field if specific training in high-fidelity motivational interviewing (MI) targeting OMM can be integrated into pharmacist-led medication therapy management (MTM) sessions.

Present and analyze displayed pharmacist MI skills during 47 pharmacist-led medication therapy management sessions, completed as part of the larger parent Healthy Opioid Prescription Engagement 2.0 study.

Design/participants: We conducted an exploratory analysis utilizing recordings from three pharmacist interventionists who received MI training and subsequent supervision sessions as part of a behavioral health randomized clinical trial targeting OMM using MTM. Procedure: 20-minute session segments (N = 47) employing MI skills were coded using the MI Treatment Integrity Coding Manual 4.2.1. Assessments/analyses: Frequencies/percentages and means described intervention recipient demographics and fidelity of pharmacist MI skills-global scores, reflections, and MI behavior counts.

Intervention recipients were approximately 50 years old, had more than or equal to moderate severity depression (51.1%), and/or opioid use disorder (29.8%). Regarding pharmacist performance, relational/technical global scores averaged 3.6 and 3.8, respectively, reaching competency. Complex reflections averaged 60.2%, reaching proficiency. MI adherent counts averaged 11 times greater than non-adherent counts (4.4, 0.4) and zero confrontations were coded, meaning pharmacists avoided stigmatizing behaviors while delivering high fidelity MI skills during MTM sessions to address opioid medication misuse.

Pharmacists delivering MTM sessions have the potential to effectively address opioid-related risk during MTM sessions by integrating high-fidelity MI skills following structured training/supervision.