TY - JOUR
T1 - Support and perceived barriers to implementing pre-exposure prophylaxis screening and dispensing in pharmacies
T2 - Examining concordance between pharmacy technicians and pharmacists
AU - Hopkins, Roderick
AU - Josma, Dorie
AU - Morris, Joseph
AU - Klepser, Donald G.
AU - Young, Henry N.
AU - Crawford, Natalie D.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank the participants for their time and engagement in this study. The authors would also like to acknowledge the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) for its support under award number 1R34MH119007-01.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021
PY - 2021/1/1
Y1 - 2021/1/1
N2 - Objectives: Recent legislation to expand pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) screening and dispensing in pharmacies may significantly improve PrEP access for people at a high risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. Studies have shown that pharmacists show wide support for PrEP expansion in pharmacies. However, pharmacy technicians are often the first point of contact for patients in pharmacies and are required to implement many of the tasks to ensure patients of a pharmacy receive adequate services. The purpose of this study was to assess pharmacists’ and pharmacy technicians’ perspectives regarding the implementation of PrEP screening and dispensing. Methods: We qualitatively examined whether pharmacy technicians’ (n = 6) support and perceived barriers to screening and dispensing PrEP in pharmacies were concordant with those of pharmacists (n = 7). Pharmacy staff were recruited from high-risk HIV neighborhoods in Atlanta, GA using AIDSVu (Atlanta, GA). Two independent coders used MAXQDA (Berlin, Germany) and performed thematic data analysis and unitization to determine agreement. Results: Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians expressed strong willingness and support for screening and dispensing PrEP in pharmacies. Both groups expressed concerns about the time and the resources needed to perform PrEP screening and dispensing. Technicians, however, also reported concerns about privacy for patients, the need for community support and awareness of pharmacy-based PrEP screening, and recommended scheduling of PrEP screening activities during a limited part of the day to facilitate screening. Pharmacists reported fewer barriers but reported a need for more training of pharmacy staff to assist with PrEP screening and dispensing implementation. Conclusion: Pharmacy technicians discussed more barriers compared with pharmacists who were largely centered around practical considerations (i.e., logistics and workflow) that may affect the success of PrEP screening and dispensing. Given technicians’ pivotal role in the pharmacy, implementation of pharmacy-based PrEP services should address technicians’ perceived barriers in addition to those of pharmacists.
AB - Objectives: Recent legislation to expand pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) screening and dispensing in pharmacies may significantly improve PrEP access for people at a high risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. Studies have shown that pharmacists show wide support for PrEP expansion in pharmacies. However, pharmacy technicians are often the first point of contact for patients in pharmacies and are required to implement many of the tasks to ensure patients of a pharmacy receive adequate services. The purpose of this study was to assess pharmacists’ and pharmacy technicians’ perspectives regarding the implementation of PrEP screening and dispensing. Methods: We qualitatively examined whether pharmacy technicians’ (n = 6) support and perceived barriers to screening and dispensing PrEP in pharmacies were concordant with those of pharmacists (n = 7). Pharmacy staff were recruited from high-risk HIV neighborhoods in Atlanta, GA using AIDSVu (Atlanta, GA). Two independent coders used MAXQDA (Berlin, Germany) and performed thematic data analysis and unitization to determine agreement. Results: Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians expressed strong willingness and support for screening and dispensing PrEP in pharmacies. Both groups expressed concerns about the time and the resources needed to perform PrEP screening and dispensing. Technicians, however, also reported concerns about privacy for patients, the need for community support and awareness of pharmacy-based PrEP screening, and recommended scheduling of PrEP screening activities during a limited part of the day to facilitate screening. Pharmacists reported fewer barriers but reported a need for more training of pharmacy staff to assist with PrEP screening and dispensing implementation. Conclusion: Pharmacy technicians discussed more barriers compared with pharmacists who were largely centered around practical considerations (i.e., logistics and workflow) that may affect the success of PrEP screening and dispensing. Given technicians’ pivotal role in the pharmacy, implementation of pharmacy-based PrEP services should address technicians’ perceived barriers in addition to those of pharmacists.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.japh.2020.10.005
DO - 10.1016/j.japh.2020.10.005
M3 - Article
C2 - 33214059
AN - SCOPUS:85096399567
SN - 1544-3191
VL - 61
SP - 115
EP - 120
JO - Journal of the American Pharmacists Association
JF - Journal of the American Pharmacists Association
IS - 1
ER -