Background: Community pharmacists are legally required to evaluate and confirm the legitimacy of prescription opioids (POs) prior to dispensing. Yet, previous research has indicated community pharmacists perceive nearly 50% of dispensed POs to be issued lacking a legitimate medical purpose. Objective: To analyze correlates of PO legitimacy judgments across pharmacist and pharmacy setting characteristics. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 2000 Tennessee pharmacists was conducted during October and November of 2012. Community pharmacists' self-reported attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors specific to PO legitimacy were elicited. Step-wise multinomial logistic regression techniques were used to model correlates of PO legitimacy across low, moderate and high PO legitimacy estimations. Results: Being female, practicing in a chain or independent practice setting, fear of employer disciplinary action if PO legitimacy is questioned, and self-confidence in one's ability to detect PO abuse increased the odds of low (vs. high) PO legitimacy estimation (p < 0.05). Employment in chain and independent pharmacies, having POs as a greater percent of total prescriptions filled, and having the perception of PO abuse as a problem in the practice setting were significant positive correlates of moderate (vs high) PO legitimacy estimation (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Both modifiable and non-modifiable correlates were statistically significantly associated with PO legitimacy judgments. Distinct correlates were noted across low and moderate as compared to high estimations of PO legitimacy. Legitimacy judgments can inform theoretical exploration of PO dispensing behaviors and inform intervention development targeted at reducing and preventing prescription drug abuse.

Background: Community pharmacists are a key intervention point in efforts to prevent and mitigate the impact of prescription drug abuse and misuse (PDA/M); yet pharmacists' perceptions regarding PDA/M have been explored only briefly in the literature. Objectives: 1) To explore Tennessee community pharmacists' perceptions regarding opioid pain reliever (OPR) prescribing, dispensing and abuse; 2) to explore community pharmacists' self-efficacy beliefs regarding PDA/M-specific communication; and 3) to evaluate perceived barriers to engaging patients in PDA/M-specific communication. Methods: A 55-item survey instrument was developed using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TpB) as a theoretical framework. Questionnaires were mailed to a stratified sample of 2000 licensed Tennessee pharmacists using the Tailored Design Method of survey administration during October and November, 2012. Results: A response rate of 40% was obtained. A majority of pharmacists (87.5%) perceived OPR abuse to be a problem in their practice settings. On average, a little more than half (53%) of prescriptions issued for OPRs were estimated to be for patients with one or more legitimate medical reasons justifying the medication(s). A small fraction of pharmacists (13%) reported having addiction treatment facility information in their practice settings, and only a small percent reported strong self-efficacy beliefs regarding PDA/M patient communication. Job-related time constraints were perceived as the primary barrier to engaging in PDA/M communication. Conclusions: Community pharmacists in Tennessee are aware of PDA/M by patients receiving opioid prescriptions and value their role in communicating with these patients but indicate their ability to do so effectively is hindered by a lack of confidence, training, and time. Further research to identify and test methods for facilitating PDA/M communication by pharmacists is indicated.

盧國輝. / Thesis (Ed.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 255-278) / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in Chinese and English. / Lu Guohui.

Text in English / The purpose of this qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual study is to explore and describe the perception of secondary school learners regarding the use of illicit drugs and to propose recommendations to caregivers and school teachers that could help curb illicit drugs use. Purposive sampling was used to identify twelve secondary school learners who participated in this study. Data were collected through in-depth individual face-to-face interviews, drawings and field notes. Data analysis was done using Tesch’s descriptive method of open coding. The findings revealed that a combination of factors such as vulnerability, physical changes, psychological challenges and social challenges experienced by secondary school learners in Windhoek, Namibia, lead to illicit drugs use. The participants identified the different strategies they employed to recapture their lives from using illicit drugs and recommendations were made to caregivers and teachers on how to address these factors. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

Substance abuse is a significant challenge facing the World and in particular South Africa. In this study, various Western and African traditional perspectives were considered to gain an understanding of the substance abuse problem among adolescents. The study was conducted in one of the rural villages of the Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality in the North West Province of South Africa. Participants included 24 African male and female adolescents between 13 and 19 years of age, as well as 2 parents and 9 professionals. The 9 professionals are educators, a social worker, a clinical psychologist, a mental health worker, a traditional leader and a traditional healer, between 37 to 53 years of age. A qualitative, explorative research design was employed. Data sources included individual face-to-face interviews, focus group discussions, and a document review. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse data. The findings were based on the perceptions of participants and revealed that adolescents are socially entrapped to substances such as alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, cocaine, glue, nyaope, and segonyamahlo. Reasons for their use of substances included individual, family, and environmental factors. The findings revealed the severe impact of substance abuse on adolescents and their families. There was evidence of primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of substance abuse prevention programmes targeting adolescents and other community members. In addition, stakeholders such as parents, peers, professionals, traditional leaders, traditional healers, government, and non-government organisations were recommended to implement substance abuse prevention programmes to address the substance abuse problem among adolescents. Furthermore, the study highlighted efforts made to reflect on the implemented substance abuse prevention programmes. / Psychology / D. Phil. (Psychology)