Assessing Willingness of Patients with Diabetes to Attend Pharmacist-Led Structured and Patient Specific Diabetes Self-Management Education.

Background: The American Diabetes Association recommends that people with diabetes should participate in diabetes self-management education, however data shows that many patients do not attend educational classes. Objectives: To examine the views of patients with diabetes who utilize services at an independent pharmacy in Richmond, Virginia regarding their (1) interest in attending diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) services, (2) perceptions of a pharmacist leading DSMES services, (3) willingness to pay for DSMES services, and (4) relationship between self-reported diabetes management status with their willingness to attend DSMES services. Methods: A qualitative survey was administered over five months to patients with diabetes at an independent community pharmacy in Richmond, VA. The survey included 35 questions in a mixed format of Likert scale, dichotomous, and fill in the blank. Survey data was analyzed using univariate, bivariate, and/or multivariate analysis using SAS 9.4. Results: Twenty seven surveys were completed, 15% response rate. Patients were female (56.7%) with an average age of 69 ± 10.8 years. Caucasian race accounted for 90% of patients, 6.7% reported Black or African American, the remainder responded "other". Patients agreed they were interested in attending individual virtual and in person DSMES sessions with a rate of 52% and 87%, respectively. When asked about the full service of 9 group sessions, 33% responded disagree and 30% reported agree. 52% of patients reported belief that pharmacists had the knowledge to lead sessions. When asked about willingness to pay, patients mostly selected the lowest cost option ($25 - $35). Conclusion: Patients with diabetes are willing to participate in DSMES services and believe pharmacists can lead the sessions. It is important to continue to advocate for DSMES services so patients can understand the full benefits of the program and receive the best possible care.

Spinning the globe from west to east: A mixed-method study to examine the impact of pharmacists on immunization advocacy and delivery in Asia Pacific.

BACKGROUND: Global effort is key to prevent and control infections effectively. Whereas pharmacists' involvement in the immunization neighborhood, collaborative effort to meet immunization needs of the public, has reduced burden of vaccine-preventable diseases in Western countries, the impact of pharmacist-involved vaccination advocacy and delivery in Asia Pacific remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To examine the evidence for impact of pharmacists on immunization advocacy and delivery in Asia Pacific and to assess Singaporean pharmacists' experience in becoming immunizing pharmacists through the American Pharmacists Association's Pharmacy-based Immunization certificate training program. METHODS: A mixed-method study consisted of systematic review and survey was conducted. The systematic review was conducted by searching PubMed and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health databases from inception to March 2021. Randomized controlled trials and observational studies related to pharmacist-involved immunization advocacy and training conducted in Asia Pacific were included. Eligible studies were appraised for quality using CONsolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) and STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational checklists. In addition, a 20-item Likert-scale survey evaluated the pharmacists' experience in becoming immunizing pharmacists in Singapore. Frequencies of each response to the survey items were analyzed. RESULTS: Six studies were eligible for inclusion; 2 assessing impact of pharmacist as immunizer, 3 reporting outcomes of pharmacist-involved vaccine advocacy, and 1 evaluating the structure of pharmacist immunization training. Although study quality was minimal, all studies echoed positive findings as a result of pharmacist-provided immunization advocacy and delivery. Of the 23 pharmacists completing the survey, 91.3% strongly agreed that quality training was important to become immunizing pharmacists. CONCLUSION: Although limited in number, studies conducted in Asia Pacific reported increased vaccination rates when involving pharmacists. Coupled with the enthusiasm to be trained in immunization advocacy and delivery as elucidated by the Singaporean pharmacists, pharmacists in Asia Pacific should also be advocated for their role in the immunization neighborhood as part of the global effort against vaccine-preventable infectious diseases.

Impact of Live Training on Medication Errors in a Community-Based Pharmacy Setting.

OBJECTIVE: To compare community-based pharmacy medication errors before and after a one-hour live interactive training session for both pharmacists and technicians. METHODS: A one group pre-post intervention design study was conducted in 20 community-based pharmacies in a district of a large national community pharmacy chain. A one-hour live, interactive session was developed based on incident reports and medication error trends including medication error definition, ways in which medication errors occur, strategies for mitigating errors, information about human error, and methods and habits to improve patient safety. At least 50% of full-time staff for each of the 20 pharmacies were required to attend a training session between December 1, 2017-January 15, 2018. Participants completed a demographics survey documenting gender, age, credentials, number of years of experience, and years of service with the company. Pharmacies were categorized as low, medium or high volume based on prescription count. Medication errors were compared six months pre- and post-live education session. Data were analyzed using SAS version 9.4. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty- five errors and 111 errors were reported pre-and post-live training (mean 6.85 and 5.55, p < 0.301), respectively. Nine pharmacies were low, eight medium, and three high volume with the mean number of medication errors reported pre- and post-live training; low 4.33 vs 4.11 p<0.478, medium 9.37 vs 6.87 p<0.443, and high 7.66 vs 6.33 p<0.593, respectively. Sixty pharmacy staff (34 pharmacists, 26 technicians) attended one of the live training sessions; 73% female; most frequently reported age range 35-50 years; 23 Doctor of Pharmacy, 11 Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, and 26 Certified Technician; and average number of years' experience was 13.6 and average service with the company was 8.6 years. CONCLUSIONS: A live training session for both pharmacists and technicians did not significantly decrease medication errors, but could be incorporated as an element of a medication safety program. It should be considered for implementation in other districts of this large national pharmacy chain as a part of an improved patient safety effort.

Pharmacist and student pharmacist views of professional and personal well-being and resilience.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the views of pharmacists and student pharmacists regarding (1) aspects of life and experiences that provide professional and personal satisfaction and fulfillment, (2) causes of stress, and (3) needs related to maintaining satisfaction and fulfillment. DESIGN: A generic qualitative research design was used for collecting data from 380 pharmacists and 332 student pharmacists who wrote responses to an online survey hosted by the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) from November 17 to December 2, 2018, using standard data collection procedures applied by that organization. APhA uses its member and affiliate data files as its sampling frame and limits the number of contacts per year for each person in those files. De-identified responses from those who volunteered to write comments were sent to the research team for analysis. A conventional content analysis approach was applied for analysis of the text. Analysts convened to discuss emergent themes and develop operational descriptions. Key segments of text that best represented each theme were identified. Personal presuppositions were disclosed and were useful for developing group consensus for theme identification and description. Rigor was supported through assessment of credibility, confirmability, intercoder checking, transferability, inductive thematic saturation, and authenticity. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Participants are in the design since data already collected. OUTCOME MEASURES: Not applicable. RESULTS: Findings showed that pharmacists and student pharmacists are able to recognize and pursue achievement, recognition, responsibility, advancement, relationship, esteem, self-actualization, meaning, and accomplishment in both their professional and personal lives. However, external factors such as "workism" and individual factors such as "moral distress" were identified as areas of improvement that are needed for well-being and resilience. CONCLUSION: Pharmacists' basic human needs are being met, but to improve well-being and resilience for pharmacists in both their professional and personal lives, there is a need for addressing both the external factors and individual factors that they encounter.

Medication therapy problems and vaccine needs identified during initial appointment-based medication synchronization visits.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize medication therapy problems (MTPs) and vaccines recommended and administered by pharmacists during initial appointment-based medication synchronization (ABMS) visits, in a community pharmacy setting. METHODS: A retrospective observational study evaluated comprehensive medication reviews documented by pharmacists during initial ABMS visits in 16 supermarket chain pharmacies in Central Virginia from September to December 2017. The documentation was examined to obtain patient demographics, MTPs, and recommended and administered vaccines. Other data collected included disease states, number of medications synchronized per patient, and average time spent per initial ABMS visit. Classifications of MTPs were adherence (overuse and underuse), adverse drug reaction, cost-efficacy management, drug interactions (drug-drug/drug-disease), excessive dose/duration, needs additional therapy (for chronic conditions), suboptimal drug selection, and unnecessary therapy. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test was used to compare group differences. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-four patients received an initial ABMS visit (118 female and 66 male patients). The mean age was 70 years for women and 65 years for men, range 18 to 19 years (P < 0.08). Disease states documented included asthma, benign prostatic hyperplasia, chronic pain, epilepsy, depression, diabetes mellitus, dementia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, history of myocardial infarction, human immunodeficiency virus, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. Women had a significantly higher number of disease states than men did (P < 0.03). Thirty-seven MTPs were identified with no statistical difference between men and women (P < 0.98). Pharmacists reported spending an average of 17 minutes with patients during the initial visit for an average of 6 medications synchronized per patient. Six hundred thirty-three vaccines were recommended, and 51 were administered. CONCLUSION: Initial ABMS visit with a comprehensive medication review facilitated pharmacists in detecting medication therapy problems. Although vaccines administered were lower than recommended, community pharmacists play an important role in preventive health through vaccine screenings and recommendations. Future plans include evaluating the outcomes of MTPs identified and resolved in the ABMS service.

Decision-maker and staff perceptions of the pharmacist's role in transitions of care programs.

OBJECTIVES: To identify perceptions of decision-makers and staff at a local hospital about the pharmacist's role in transitions of care (TOC) programs. SETTING: Independent community pharmacy located inside a local community hospital. PRACTICE DESCRIPTION: Pharmacy personnel offer a bedside delivery service to hospital patients and have professional relationships with administration. PRACTICE INNOVATION: Pharmacy personnel intend to expand the bedside delivery service to a comprehensive TOC program. Researchers believed it would be important to gather the perceptions of pharmacist's role in TOC programs from nonpharmacist clinicians and administration to successfully develop the program. EVALUATION: This project would identify perceptions to help develop a TOC program. METHODS: A 22-question survey was developed after consulting with key staff and informed by literature regarding TOC and pharmacists' roles in patient care services. Collected demographic information included primary department, number of years worked at the institution, and involvement in TOC. After an 8-week survey distribution period, descriptive statistics were performed on the data collected. RESULTS: A total of 13 decision-makers and staff responded to the survey with a response rate of 87%. Eleven of 12 respondents (92%) thought that pharmacists should be involved in TOC and can be the communication link between patients and other health care providers to ensure continuity of care. All of the participants thought that pharmacists should provide medication reconciliation and patient and caregiver education through TOC services. The participants were less likely to think that pharmacists should offer follow-up care after discharge. CONCLUSION: Participants agreed that pharmacists should be involved in TOC services but had varied perceptions on the pharmacist's specific role. Decision-maker and staff perceptions identified in this study will be used to develop the pharmacist's role in a TOC program at the institution.

Pharmacy interns' perceptions of knowledge and skills required for delivery of patient care services.

OBJECTIVES: To explore how pharmacy interns' training experiences during internship influence understanding and confidence about preparation for providing patient care services in a large community pharmacy chain. METHODS: A descriptive survey design using a census sample of the 98 pharmacy interns, aged 18 years and older, employed in 52 pharmacies of one community pharmacy chain was conducted. Training experiences influencing understanding and confidence were evaluated with the use of a 38-question survey instrument developed with a focus group of pharmacy interns and distributed via Qualtrics over a period of 12 weeks. Responses were stored in Qualtrics and analyzed with the use of SAS version 9.4. RESULTS: Thirty-four surveys were returned, for a response rate of 35%, with a 20% response rate for all of the questions. Pharmacy interns who completed the American Pharmacist Association "Delivering Medication Therapy Management Services" certificate training program were more likely to agree with statements evaluating understanding (P < 0.02) and confidence (P < 0.09) in completing a comprehensive medication review and less likely to indicate a need for training (P < 0.02). Pharmacy interns have a greater understanding and confidence incorporating immunizations into workflow (both 85%). They also have a greater understanding and confidence in using Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for immunization recommendations (90% and 85%, respectively). Pharmacy interns reported that they did not have a strong understanding of and confidence level in providing other patient care services, including medication therapy management services, clinical queue, and point-of-care testing. Survey respondents reported a desire for additional training in these areas. CONCLUSION: Although pharmacy interns have a greater understanding of how to incorporate immunizations into pharmacy workload and use immunization guidelines, levels of understanding and confidence in providing other patient care services were not as strong. Future development of training for patient care services may help to increase pharmacy intern understanding and confidence.

Pharmacists' comfort level and knowledge about prescribing hormonal contraception in a supermarket chain pharmacy.

OBJECTIVES: To compare community pharmacists' comfort levels and knowledge prescribing hormonal contraception before and after a training session and to identify perceived barriers and resources needed to prescribe hormonal contraception. METHODS: In this pre-post convenience sample survey study, all 350 pharmacists in the Mid-Atlantic Division of Kroger (which spans parts of Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia) were surveyed before and after a training session. The survey consisted of several sections: 1) questions rating comfort, 2) knowledge-based multiple-choice assessment questions, 3) perceptions of barriers and resources needed to prescribe hormonal contraception, and 4) demographics. The training session was a 1-hour continuing education about hormonal contraception. Data were analyzed with the use of univariate and bivariate statistics to compare pre- and post-training survey information. RESULTS: Seventy-eight pharmacists completed both surveys (22.3% response rate). Pharmacists averaged 14 years in pharmacy practice, and 66.6% were female. More pharmacists (31.8%) perceived liability concern as the greatest barrier to pharmacist-initiated contraception. Pharmacist knowledge about hormonal contraception increased in some domains after the training session (P < 0.001). If allowed as a scope of practice in their state, the comfort level of pharmacists in prescribing any type of hormonal contraceptive significantly increased after the training session (P < 0.004). CONCLUSION: Pharmacists have an initial lack of knowledge and perceived lack of comfort with prescribing hormonal contraception if allowed in their state of practice. A training session was identified as an effective tool and intervention to increase pharmacists' comfort levels in prescribing hormonal contraception.

Public attitudes and beliefs about Virginia community pharmacists dispensing and administering naloxone.

OBJECTIVES: To determine awareness concerning naloxone and perceived severity of opioid overdose, to identify attitudes and beliefs concerning naloxone, and to assess perceived benefits and barriers related to naloxone dispensed and administered by community pharmacists. METHODS: The project was conducted in 3 phases. Phase 1 consisted of survey development and pretesting to identify unclear questions. The survey used principles of the health belief model, focusing on perceived severity of opioid overdose, perceived barriers and benefits to community pharmacists dispensing and administering naloxone, naloxone awareness, sources of health information, and attitudes and beliefs about naloxone. Question types were 5-point Likert response scale with several multiple choice and dichotomous questions. In phase 2, the paper-based survey was distributed to adults in the Richmond area from December 2016 to June 2017. Phase 3 consisted of data analysis using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-nine individuals with a mean age of 35.4 years (56.7% male and 44.4% white) completed the survey. Opioid overdose was identified as a serious problem in the Richmond area and the United States by 71.9% and 81.3% of respondents, respectively. Among respondents, 39.5% had heard of naloxone before the survey. Most respondents were comfortable with a community pharmacist dispensing and administering naloxone (66.4% and 64.0%, respectively). Of the 31 respondents who were not comfortable with pharmacists dispensing or administering naloxone, 18 respondents identified promoting drug abuse and misuse and 12 respondents identified promoting reckless behavior as a perceived barrier. CONCLUSIONS: While most survey respondents were not aware of naloxone before completing the survey, the majority were in favor of community pharmacists in Virginia dispensing and administering naloxone. The most commonly identified concern is that pharmacists dispensing naloxone would promote drug abuse and misuse, which should be addressed with patient education.

Impact of pharmacist identification of medication-related problems in a nontraditional long-term care pharmacy.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize the most common medication-related problems and interventions and to evaluate the acceptance rates of pharmacist identification of medication-related problems through percent acceptance rates of interventions in a nontraditional long-term care pharmacy. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of long-term care pharmacy patients 18 years of age or older was used to evaluate pharmacist interventions from January 2014 to August 2016. Data collection included the date and type of intervention, patient demographic information (age, sex), drug class involved, physician provider type (primary care or specialist), intervention outcome, and resolution type. Accepted and rejected interventions were reviewed and classified based on Hepler and Strand's 8 medication-related problems: untreated indications, improper drug selection, subtherapeutic dosage, failure to receive medication, overdosage, adverse drug reactions, drug interactions, and medication use without indication. Data were analyzed with the use of descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Four hundred seventeen interventions were documented over 18 months, approximately 13 interventions per month. Prescribers accepted 47% of interventions and rejected 29%. The remaining 24% of interventions did not have a response from the prescriber. Of the medication-related problems, "untreated indication" and "overdosage" were the most commonly intervened with and accepted interventions. Regarding drug class, pharmacists made the most interventions regarding immunizations (41%), diabetes medications (11%), cholesterol medications (10%), and hypertension medications (7%). CONCLUSION: Pharmacists are improving the care of patients living in small group homes through various types of recommendations regarding complex disease states, such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension, further complicated by mental illness. With almost one-half of all recommendations accepted by prescribers, pharmacists consistently provided recommendations to improve care.

The impact of an immunization check-up at a pharmacist-provided employee health screening.

OBJECTIVES: To determine which types of vaccine recommendations were accepted and acted upon by patients after an immunization check-up at a pharmacist-provided employee health screening, and to evaluate if there was a difference between influenza and non-influenza vaccines. DESIGN: Retrospective, observational. SETTING: Supermarket chain. PATIENTS: Employees and covered spouses. INTERVENTION: Immunization check-up. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Acceptance rate of immunization recommendation. METHODS: This retrospective observational study evaluated the impact of an immunization check-up in individuals who participated in one of the 252 pharmacist-provided health screenings in central Virginia in 2015. All employee health screenings were completed from July 1, 2015, to September 30, 2015. Because immunization status was assessed 6 months after each person received his or her health screening, data were collected from January 1, 2016, to March 30, 2016, and analyzed to collect the number and type of vaccines recommended during the immunization check-up. Each eligible participant's profile was evaluated to determine if he or she received the vaccines at any Kroger pharmacy within 6 months. Patient identifiers were not collected; however, demographics including age, relevant disease state history, and smoking status were collected with immunization recommendations and uptake. Data were analyzed with the use of descriptive statistics. RESULTS: A total of 349 immunization recommendations were made, including 248 influenza; 42 pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPSV23); 40 tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap); 12 herpes zoster; 4 pneumococcal conjugate (PCV13); and 3 hepatitis B. Both influenza and PCV13 had acceptance rates of 50%, and herpes zoster, Tdap, hepatitis B, and PPSV23 had 42%, 35%, 33%, and 24% acceptance rates, respectively. Influenza recommendations had a 50% acceptance rate compared with a 32% acceptance rate of non-influenza recommendations (P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: An immunization check-up performed at a pharmacist-provided employee health screening can lead to patient acceptance of recommendations and receipt of needed immunizations.

Pharmacist intervention in patient selection of nonprescription and self-care products.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the potential outcomes of pharmacist intervention on patient selection of nonprescription and self-care products and to evaluate patient confidence and satisfaction with the assistance of the pharmacist. METHODS: A prospective, convenience sample study was conducted at 3 locations of a national supermarket chain pharmacy in the Charlottesville, Virginia, area over 4 months. Patients were recruited for the study if they approached the pharmacy counter and requested assistance with nonprescription and self-care product selection or if the investigating pharmacists approached the patient in the self-care aisles. Men and nonpregnant women age 18 years and older were included in the study. Patients self-selected into the study by agreeing to participate in the study intervention and answering questions relating to their experience with the pharmacist consultation. The study intervention was the pharmacist consultation with the patient to assess the self-care complaint and to make an appropriate recommendation. RESULTS: Forty-two patients participated, the mean (±SD) age was 57 ± 20.8 years, and 62% of patients were female. Sixty percent of patients had used pharmacist help in the past in selecting nonprescription and self-care products. There were 87 total potential outcomes, and a mean of 2.1 potential outcomes per patient. The most potential common outcomes were reduced drug cost, avoided physician visit, corrected product use, and avoided a new prescription. Mean patient confidence (±SD) was 4.38 ± 0.96. Mean patient satisfaction was 4.98. Every patient (100%) stated that they would be more willing to ask for pharmacist help in the future with self-care product selection. The mean encounter time was 6 minutes. CONCLUSION: Pharmacists' active involvement in patient self-care consultation may help patients to select the most effective and safe product and improve patient outcomes. Patients are highly satisfied with pharmacists' help with the selection of nonprescription and self-care products and are more confident with future self-treatment.

Evaluating health outcomes following a pharmacist-provided comprehensive pretravel health clinic in a supermarket pharmacy.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate health outcomes and acceptance of pharmacists' recommendations of travel health including prevalance of immunizations, sunburn, insect-borne diseases, traveler's diarrhea, and altitude sickness, and assess patient satisfaction with the pretravel health clinic. DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional study design. SETTING: Central Virginia, July 2011 to June 2012. PARTICIPANTS: Patients 18 years and older who had an appointment with the pharmacist for pretravel health. INTERVENTION: Interview/survey administered to patients by telephone. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Health outcomes, acceptance rates of pharmacist's travel health recommendations, and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: Of 356 patients eligible to participate in the study, 103 patients participated, 30 patients declined, and 223 patients could not be reached by telephone (29% response rate). Pharmacists' recommendations for travel immunizations (100% acceptance rate for yellow fever and 82% for Typhoid) and nonpharmacologic preventive measures (prevention of sunburn, traveler's diarrhea, insect bites, and altitude sickness) were well accepted by respondents, and occurrence of these adverse events was low. Patients were satisfied overall with the education and services that the pharmacist delivered in the pretravel health clinic. CONCLUSION: Pharmacists providing services in pretravel health clinics can have substantial impact on the health of patients traveling internationally.

Development and implementation of a pharmacist-delivered Medicare annual wellness visit at a family practice office.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the development and implementation of a pharmacist-delivered Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (MWV). SETTING: Physician-owned, private family practice office. PRACTICE INNOVATION: Pharmacist-delivered MWV. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient visits and practice income. RESULTS: Because of time constraints in the practice, physicians, nurse practitioners, and a physician assistant had been unable to offer MWVs, a new service available to Medicare beneficiaries under the Affordable Care Act. A pharmacist who was previously providing patient care services 1 day/week at a fixed hourly rate was able to add an additional 1 day/week for provision of MWVs. These visits involve updating medical and medication histories; measuring weight, mass, and blood pressure; assessing cognitive and physical function; and screening the patient and recommending preventive services. From September 2012 to February 2013, 174 patients participated in the pharmacist-delivered MWV. Pharmacist visits were billed using codes G0438 and G0439, and the practice realized a positive net income for the MWVs. CONCLUSION: Pharmacist-delivered MWVs are financially viable and allow for greater pharmacist participation on the primary care team.

Student pharmacists' perceptions and awareness of community pharmacy practice residency programs.

OBJECTIVES: To assess student exposure to types of pharmacy practice, evaluate awareness and perceptions of community pharmacy residencies, and identify areas of postgraduate training of interest to student pharmacists. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, descriptive, online survey study. SETTING: United States, January to April 2008. PARTICIPANTS: Student pharmacists in the final 2 years of the doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) program. INTERVENTION: An online survey was administered to students in the final 2 years of the PharmD program at randomly selected schools of pharmacy by region throughout the United States. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Awareness of student pharmacists regarding community pharmacy residencies and interest in postgraduate training. RESULTS: 254 surveys were completed during the study period. Of the respondents, 95% had previous experience working in a community pharmacy setting. Nearly 90% were aware of community pharmacy residencies. Students who indicated opportunities to publish (odds ratio 2.4 [95% CI 1.34-4.1]), teaching students (2.1 [1.36-3.14]), enjoying the job atmosphere (4.9 [1.54-15.60]), and clinically challenging (4.3 [2.15-8.67]) as desirable career attributes were more likely to be interested in postgraduate training. No significant differences existed in the information sources sought by students interested in community pharmacy residency programs (CPRPs) compared with those interested in other types of postgraduate training. CONCLUSION: The significant predicators of student pharmacists interested in pursuing postgraduate training are in alignment with CPRP training. Further research is needed to market the value of CPRPs through the identified information sources.

The use of the health belief model to assess predictors of intent to receive the novel (2009) H1N1 influenza vaccine.

OBJECTIVES: 1) Assess participants' perceptions of severity, risk, and susceptibility to the novel H1N1 influenza virus and/or vaccine, vaccine benefits and barriers, and cues to action and 2) Identify predictors of participants' intention to receive the novel H1N1 vaccine. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, descriptive study SETTING: Local grocery store chain and university in the central Virginia area PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample of adult college students and grocery store patrons INTERVENTION: Participants filled out an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire based upon the Health Belief Model. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants' predictors of intention to receive the novel H1N1 vaccine RESULTS: A total of 664 participants completed a questionnaire. The majority of participants were aged 25-64 years old (66.9%). The majority were female (69.1%), Caucasian (73.7%), and felt at risk for getting sick from the virus (70.3%). Most disagreed that they would die from the virus (68.0%). Participants received novel H1N1 vaccine recommendations from their physicians (28.2%), pharmacists (20.7%), and nurses (16.1%). The majority intended to receive the H1N1 vaccine (58.1%). Participants were significantly more likely to intend to receive the H1N1 vaccine if they had lower scores on the perceived vaccine barriers domain (OR= 0.57, CI: 0.35-0.93). Physicians' recommendations (OR=0.26, CI: 0.11-0.62) and 2008 seasonal flu vaccination (OR=0.45, CI: 0.24-0.83) were significant predictors of intention to receive the H1N1 vaccine. CONCLUSIONS: Most participants felt at risk for getting the novel H1N1 virus and intended to receive the novel H1N1 vaccine. Educating patients about vaccine benefits and increasing healthcare professionals' vaccine recommendations may increase vaccination rates in future pandemics.

Value of community pharmacy residency programs: college of pharmacy and practice site perspectives.

OBJECTIVES: To describe and compare perceptions of key informants representing U.S. colleges/schools of pharmacy and community pharmacy practice sites regarding (1) value associated with community pharmacy residency programs (CPRPs) and (2) barriers to offering CPRPs . DESIGN: Descriptive, non-experimental, cross-sectional study. SETTING: United States, June 13, 2009, through July 13, 2009. PARTICIPANTS: 554 respondents to a Web-based survey. INTERVENTION: Key informants representing the following four organizational groups were surveyed: (1) colleges/schools of pharmacy participating in CPRPs, (2) colleges/schools of pharmacy not participating in CPRPs, (3) CPRP community pharmacy practice sites, and (4) non-CPRP community pharmacy practice sites. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Value of CPRPs to participating pharmacies, value of CPRPs to participating colleges/schools of pharmacy, and barriers to offering CPRPs. RESULTS: Overall, 267 key informants from colleges/schools of pharmacy and 287 key informants from pharmacy practice sites responded to the survey (n = 554 total respondents). Of these, 334 responders provided data that were usable for analysis. The most important types of value to the respondents were altruistic in nature (e.g., pharmacy education development, pharmacy profession development, community engagement). However, barriers to offering CPRPs were more practical and included challenges related to accreditation and operational issues. Further, evidence indicated that (1) lack of leadership, (2) lack of revenue generated from such programs, and (3) the cost of reimbursement for residents may be fundamental, multidimensional barriers to implementing CPRPs. CONCLUSION: Guidelines for starting and continuing CPRPs, "industry norms" that would require CPRP training for certain types of employment, and creation of models for patient care revenue would help develop and position CPRPs in the future.

Implementation of a comprehensive pretravel health program in a supermarket chain pharmacy.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the procedures for implementing a comprehensive pretravel health program in a supermarket chain pharmacy. SETTING: Central Virginia (Richmond, Fredericksburg, Williamsburg, and Roanoke) between 2000 and 2008. PRACTICE DESCRIPTION: Ukrop's is a local supermarket chain with 29 stores, 20 of which have pharmacies. Ukrop's Pharmacy offers enhanced patient care services, including medication therapy management, wellness services, diabetes education and management, smoking cessation, and immunizations. PRACTICE INNOVATION: Comprehensive pretravel health program. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of patients participating in the pretravel health program and number of vaccinations administered by pharmacists. RESULTS: An average of 1,000 patients per year participate in the pretravel health program, and approximately 1,900 vaccines are administered each year. CONCLUSION: A comprehensive pretravel program is a successful service in a supermarket chain pharmacy. It provides another option for travelers seeking pretravel health care.