Evaluation of Tricyclic Antidepressant Deprescribing in the Treatment of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy within Federally Qualified Health Centers.

BACKGROUND: Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are a treatment option for diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Existing evidence demonstrates the prolonged use of TCA therapy increases the risk of cognitive decline and dementia, likely due to the anticholinergic effects of these medications. The anticholinergic activity is thought to contribute significantly to the observed increase in cognitive decline and dementia risks associated with long-term TCA use. There is little information available to describe the usage patterns of TCAs in DPN, particularly within underserved populations who receive care at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to characterize: 1) prescribing patterns of TCAs as a treatment for DPN and 2) evidence of deprescribing attempts in a FQHC population. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of electronic medical record (EMR) data for patients at two different FQHCs was performed. A convenience sample of 100 adults ≥ 18 years of age was stratified into two age groups, 18-55 years, and 55+ years. All patients had a diagnosis of Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes mellitus and had been prescribed TCAs in the previous four years and had a visit with a primary care provider (PCP) in the past 12 months. RESULTS: The study population was comprised of 100 individuals. Seventy-four of 100 were persistent users of TCAs at the time of data collection, and the mean duration of utilization was 54.8 months. In total, 104 TCAs were prescribed across 100 individual patients. Of all 104 prescribed TCAs, 66 (63%) were prescribed at a rate that exceeded thresholds associated with a higher risk of dementia. Black older adults prescribed TCAs were more likely to exceed this dose threshold. CONCLUSION: 65% of patients used TCAs with a strength, frequency, and duration that exceeded risk thresholds for dementia in an older adult population. Interventions preventing use of or deprescribing TCAs in patients with DPN should be conducted for the potential benefits of preventing or delaying cognitive impairment and promoting equitable care.

An Assessment of Pharmacist Perceptions and Experiences with Community Health Workers.

BACKGROUND: The American Public Health Association defines a Community Health Worker (CHW) as "a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served." Both CHWs and pharmacists have shown they are well-equipped to produce positive outcomes in chronic disease management, but there is still a gap in the literature regarding the CHW-pharmacist relationship. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess and describe pharmacist perceptions and experiences with CHWs. METHODS: An online survey was distributed to pharmacists via state and national pharmacy organizations in the following states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographics and pharmacist experiences with CHWs. RESULTS: The survey received 241 responses and 212 (88.0%) met inclusion criteria. Of the 212 eligible respondents, the survey was sufficiently completed by 163 (76.9%). These 163 complete responses were included in the data analysis. Fifty-eight (35.6%) respondents reported working with a CHW and 105 (64.4%) reported never working with a CHW. Fifty-two (89.7%) respondents who previously worked with a CHW were strongly interested or interested in continuing to work with a CHW. Sixty-one (58.1%) respondents without experience were strongly interested or interested in working with a CHW. The reported improvements seen with the addition of a CHW to the healthcare team included: improved patient empowerment, improved clinical patient outcomes, decreased workload of other healthcare professionals, increased healthcare knowledge, increased healthcare utilization, and increased medication and/or treatment plan adherence. CONCLUSION: Pharmacists recognize the benefit of working with a CHW and their contributions to patient care and want to continue working collaboratively. Collaborative pharmacist-CHW relationships should be a priority for optimizing care through community pharmacies and will require a shift in the current structure of community pharmacy services.

Patient awareness, perceptions, and attitudes towards pharmacists prescribing tobacco cessation medications.

BACKGROUND: Recent legislative advances now permit pharmacists to prescribe tobacco cessation medications in 17 states. While national initiatives are underway to prepare the pharmacy profession for this expanded role, patient perceptions of this role have not been explored. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to characterize patient perceptions, attitudes, and awareness of pharmacists prescribing for tobacco cessation medications. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of English and Spanish-speaking patients was conducted at 12 locations of a federally-qualified health center in Northwest Indiana. Survey measures assessed sociodemographics, tobacco use history and interest in quitting, prior interactions with pharmacists and awareness of pharmacists' ability to prescribe tobacco cessation medications, and perceptions of pharmacists assisting with cessation. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) served as a framework for item development. Multivariable logistic regression was used for modeling. RESULTS: A total of 2082 individuals (1878 English, 204 Spanish) completed the survey (42.4%). Among current users (n = 592; 28.4%), 46.2% had made a quit attempt in the past year, and 41.0% reported having used a tobacco cessation medication in the past. Over half (60.5%) of current users would be comfortable talking with a pharmacist about quitting, 31.9% intended to talk with a pharmacist about quitting, and 31.7% intended to ask a pharmacist to prescribe a medicine to help with quitting. In multivariable modeling, intention to (a) talk with a pharmacist about quitting and (b) ask a pharmacist to prescribe a medication were significantly associated with TPB constructs. Current tobacco users were receptive to pharmacist-facilitated assistance with quitting, including prescribing of tobacco cessation medications. CONCLUSIONS: Patients' attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, from the Theory of Planned Behavior, were important predictors of intention to engage with pharmacists for quitting and intention to ask a pharmacist to prescribe a cessation medication.

Pharmacist-led hormonal contraceptive prescribing service in a Federally Qualified Health Center: Initial implementation outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The United States has a higher rate of unintended pregnancy than many other developed countries, and Indiana's unintended pregnancy rate is above the national average. Unintended pregnancy rates are highest among low-income women. Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) provide care for the underserved and uninsured patient population. OBJECTIVE: To determine the acceptability, adoption, appropriateness, and feasibility of a pharmacist-led hormonal contraception prescribing service within a FQHC through a collaborative drug therapy management protocol. METHODS: An explanatory mixed methods analysis included surveys followed by semistructured interviews. A survey was created and distributed to all patients who received the service and all providers (physicians and nurse practitioners) employed at the FQHC during service implementation. Semistructured interviews were conducted with a subset of patients and providers. RESULTS: A total of 11 patients and 8 providers completed the survey between January 1, 2022 and June 10, 2022. Of these participants, 4 patients and 4 providers completed an interview between May 1, 2022 and June 30, 2022. Both patients and providers perceived the service as acceptable and appropriate, and providers perceived implementation of the service within clinic as feasible. Ten patients received a prescription from the pharmacist; 1 patient was referred to a provider as the pharmacist was unable to prescribe the medication requested. CONCLUSION: Implementation of pharmacist prescribed hormonal contraception was perceived as acceptable, appropriate, and feasible by patients and providers. Pharmacists are perceived by patients and providers as an additional resource for hormonal contraception prescribing within a FQHC due to their clinical knowledge, efficiency, and attention paid to patients' concerns.

Evaluation of Student Pharmacists' Attitudes and Perceptions of Hormonal Contraception Prescribing in Indiana.

Community pharmacists' scope of practice is expanding to include hormonal contraceptive prescribing. Prior to introducing statewide legislation, it is important to assess the perceptions of future pharmacists. A cross-sectional survey was distributed to 651 third- and fourth-year professional students enrolled at three colleges of pharmacy in Indiana. Data were collected between September and October 2019 to assess students' attitudes about prescribing hormonal contraceptives, readiness to prescribe, perceived barriers, and desire for additional training. In total, 20.9% (n = 136) students responded. Most (89%, n = 121) believe that pharmacist-prescribed hormonal contraceptives would be beneficial to women in Indiana, and 91% (n = 124) reported interest in providing this service. Liability, personal beliefs, and religious beliefs were the most commonly cited perceived barriers. Most students felt they received adequate teaching on hormonal contraceptive methods (90%, n = 122) and hormonal contraceptive counseling (79%, n = 107); only 5% (n = 7) felt ready to provide the service at the time of survey completion. Student pharmacists in their final two years of pharmacy school are interested in prescribing hormonal contraceptives and believe that this service would be beneficial. This expansion of pharmacy practice would likely be supported by future pharmacists who feel the service could provide benefit to women seeking hormonal contraceptives in Indiana.

Medical staff perceptions of medication-assisted treatment in a federally qualified health center.

OBJECTIVES: To describe medical staff attitudes and perceived behaviors toward medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in a federally qualified health center (FQHC). The secondary objective was to identify the staff's perceptions of using pharmacists during MAT. DESIGN: A cross-sectional, descriptive study using a 26-item Web-based survey was developed using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and consisted of Likert scale and multiple-select options. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Medical staff located at an FQHC in northwest Indiana were eligible to participate if they were 18 years or older. Corporate and administrative staff were not eligible to participate. OUTCOME MEASURES: Perceptions were measured using the 4 constructs of the TPB: attitude, perceived behavioral control, subjective norm, and intent. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Of the 240 eligible respondents, 104 employees completed the survey, yielding a 43.3% response rate. The providers generally believed they had the knowledge (83.9% agree or strongly agree) to diagnose patients with opioid use disorder (OUD). From the perceived behavioral control construct, staff were confident of their ability to identify patients for MAT (65.2%); however, most believed they needed additional training on MAT (75%) from the attitude construct. From the subjective norm construct, more than half of the respondents believed that their employer wanted them to be involved in the treatment of a patient with OUD (60.7%). Commonly, from the intent construct, the staff favored adding pharmacists to the care team when managing patients with MAT (57.7%). CONCLUSION: The staff expressed the need for additional training to provide MAT services and believed this would enable them to become an important part of the MAT team. Adding a trained pharmacist to the care team when managing patients with MAT was favored by the staff. The study showed that health professionals would be more comfortable if a pharmacist were available for MAT consultation.

Provider and health care team member insights for implementing a transitions of care clinic in a federally qualified health center.

OBJECTIVES: To identify medical professionals' specific insights to implementing a transitions of care (TOC) clinic in a federally qualified health center (FQHC). DESIGN: The investigators conducted focus groups during the structured 1-hour provider meetings that take place at each clinic. Each meeting was split into two 30-minute group sessions that consisted of licensed providers and of other health care team members. During the focus groups, investigators explored past experiences of care provided to patients recently discharged from hospitalizations, and the perceived benefits, barriers, and workflow for a TOC clinic. Questions used were based on the consolidated framework for implementation research (CFIR). Transcriptions were coded with the use of qualitative research data analysis software by 2 investigators independently. Initial codes were based on the CFIR constructs to identify themes in responses while remaining adaptable for any themes or discussion that the participants found important. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Participants were selected via purposive sampling within FQHCs of northwest Indiana. Participants included physicians, nurse practitioners, team care nurses, pharmacists, and behavioral health consultants. RESULTS: A total of 40 participants took part in 8 focus groups. Major themes identified were inaccessibility to patient information, apprehension about implementation, lack of familiarity with transitions of care service, and FQHC patient-centered factors. Aspects of each of the 5 CFIR constructs are discussed. CONCLUSION: Participants provided numerous factors that may affect the success of this patient care intervention in an FQHC. Proper external communication with other health care providers, comprehensive assessment of patient access to necessary resources, and collaboration at the site are the most crucial factors. Many FQHCs work with scarce resources and high patient volumes; being able to develop appropriate processes for a patient care service as encompassing and important as a TOC will affect both patient and provider experience in primary care.