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.

Submitted by Rosina Valeria Lanzellotti Mattiussi Teixeira (rosina.teixeira@unisantos.br) on 2018-10-10T14:22:03Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Marina Maria de Oliveira.pdf: 455355 bytes, checksum: 7c4f3bbaa59c558ac0f1baa9658f82de (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-10-10T14:22:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Marina Maria de Oliveira.pdf: 455355 bytes, checksum: 7c4f3bbaa59c558ac0f1baa9658f82de (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-08-23 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Os antidepressivos estão entre as classes de medicamentos mais consumidas no mundo. O alto consumo coincidiu com o aumento da prevalência de indivíduos sem diagnóstico de transtorno mental utilizando esta classe, promovendo a discussão sobre adequação do uso. O uso de antidepressivo incorre em riscos como aumento da chance de suicídio, complicações hemorrágicas, dependência e síndrome de abstinência. Além disso, a efeitos adversos como disfunção sexual que comprometem a qualidade de vida do indivíduo. Objetivo: Analisar os fatores associados ao consumo de antidepressivo por indivíduos sem diagnósticos de depressão. Métodos: Um inquérito domiciliar foi realizado com amostra probabilística (N=3744) nas cidades de São Paulo e Rio de Janeiro, entre 2007 e 2008. Os instrumentos ¿Composite International Diagnostic Interview¿ (CIDI) e questionário sobre uso de medicamentos psicotrópicos foram utilizados para obter diagnóstico de transtorno depressivo e informações sobre uso de medicamento. O modelo de regressão de poisson foi utilizado para estimar associação entre o uso de medicamento antidepressivo por indivíduos sem diagnósticos de depressão, controlado pelas variáveis sociodemográficas, outros diagnósticos de transtorno mental e histórico de doença mental na família. Resultados: Foram entrevistados 3744 indivíduos nas cidades de São Paulo e Rio de Janeiro. Destes, 4% utilizavam o medicamento antidepressivo, sendo que 59% não apresentaram diagnóstico de transtorno depressivo. Entre os indivíduos sem diagnósticos de depressão e que estavam usando medicamento antidepressivo, 60% não tinham diagnóstico de outro transtorno mental, mas 40% tinham histórico de doença mental na família. O uso de medicamento antidepressivo nestes indivíduos foi associado a ser mulher, da cor da pele branca, faixa etárias mais velhas, ter filhos, ter outros transtornos mentais e ter histórico de doença mental na família. Conclusão: na medida em que os antidepressivos estão sendo prescritos para indivíduos sem diagnóstico de transtorno depressivo, são necessários mais estudos investigativos para que o uso racional destes medicamentos seja avaliado. Os resultados deste estudo são indicativos de um uso inadequado, e, desse modo há uma necessidade de intervenções para garantir utilização adequada dos antidepressivos, seja através do fortalecimento das políticas já existentes e a elaboração de políticas especificas para a saúde mental deve ser destacada. Portanto, se faz necessária revisão de práticas e das políticas públicas dos medicamentos, buscando maneiras de coibir o uso irracional desta classe. / ABSTRACT Antidepressents are among the mostly consumed drug class in the world. The high consumption coincided with the increase in the incidence of individuals without diagnosis of mental disorder but also for other different diagnosis, promoting then the discussion about its suitability of use. The use of antidepressant medication sustains risks such as increased chance of suicide, hemorrhagic complications, dependence and withdrawal syndrome. In addition, adverse effects can also include sexual dysfunction. Objective: To analyze factors associated with antidepressant use in the general population without a diagnosis of depressive disorder. Methodology: A household survey was conducted using a probability sampling method (N=3744) in the cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, between 2007 and 2008. The 'Composite International Diagnostic Interview' (CIDI) and a questionnaire about the usage of psychotropic drugs were used in order to obtain diagnosis of depressive disorder and information on the use of the medication. Poisson Regression Method were performed to estimate the association between used of antidepressant medication in individuals, modeled by and sociodemographic variables, other diagnosis of mental disorder and mental history in families. Results: A total of 3744 individuals were interviewed in the cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Of these, 4% used antidepressant drugs, 59% of those did not present a diagnosis of depressive disorder. Among individuals without a diagnosis of depressive disorder using the medication, 60% had no other diagnosis of mental disorder and 40% with family history of mental illness. The use of antidepressant on those individuals was associated with being female, Caucasian, between 45-59 years old, having children, diagnosed with other mental illness and having history of mental illness in the family. Conclusion: as antidepressants are being prescribed to individuals without a diagnosis of depressive disorder, further research is required for the rational use of these drugs to be evaluated. The results of this study are indicative of an inadequate use, so interventions are needed to ensure adequate use of antidepressants, either through strengthening of existing policies and the development of specific policies for mental health should be highlighted. Therefore, it is necessary to review practices and public policies of medicines, seeking ways to curb the irrational use of this class.

Objective: To compare community pharmacists' self-perceived communication confidence in prescription drug abuse and addiction (PDAA)-related scenarios to their self-confidence in other scenarios. Methods: An 18-item survey instrument adapted from the Self-Perceived Communication Competence instrument was administered to 2000 licensed Tennessee community pharmacists. Items elicited communication confidence across common community pharmacy scenarios. Analysis of communication self-confidence scores across context, receiver, audience, and demographic variables was conducted. Results: Mean self-confidence ratings ranged from 54.2 to 92.6 (0-100 scale). Self-perceived communication confidence varied across context, receiver, audience, personal and practice setting characteristics. Scenarios that involved PDAA communication with patients were scored significantly lower than non-PDAA patient scenarios (mean = 84.2 vs. 90.4, p Conclusion: Community pharmacists are less confident in their ability to communicate with patients about PDAA as compared to non-PDAA scenarios. Practice Implications: Engaging patients and prescribers in PDAA conversations is a critical component of preventing and treating PDAA. Research is warranted to further explore measures of situational communication self-confidence and interventions to optimize self-confidence beliefs across PDAA scenarios.

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Prescription drug abuse is a major public health problem in United States. Research showing 70% of nonmedical prescription drug users obtain drugs from friends and family has sparked discussion over disposal of unused or expired medications. Tennessee experienced a 250% increase in overdose deaths from 2001 to 2010. In response to this increase, permanent drug donation receptacles have been installed in multiple law enforcement offices across the state; however, the extent to which the public utilizes these receptacles is not well known. In partnership with Drug Enforcement Administration and local law enforcement, drop box donations were analyzed in six Northeast Tennessee locations from June 2012 to October 2013. The objectives of this research were to: 1) quantify controlled substances (CS) donated, and 2) evaluate time lapse between dispensing date and donation across CS schedules as well as potency rankings for opioids. Over the 18-month collection period, 3,113.5 lbs. of pharmaceutical waste was donated; 5.14% or 160lbs were CS, totaling 65,430 individual doses. Analysis of dispensing dates for CS medications indicated a median of 34 months lapsed from dispensing to donation (range 1 to 484 months). Comparison of means between Schedule II and Schedule III/IV indicated that Schedule II drugs were donated within fewer months than Schedule III/IV drugs (t-test = -4.37, p-value <0.0001). These results quantify the potential impact of permanent drug donation boxes on the prevention of CS diversion in Northeast Tennessee. Further study is warranted to examine the effect of targeted public health messages on increasing CS donation.

Introduction: Community pharmacists in the United States routinely serve as intermediaries in the process of providing (i.e., dispensing) prescription opioids (POs) to patients for whom they are prescribed. Similar to most states, Tennessee (TN) has experienced exponential increases in PO dispensing, abuse and overdose deaths over the past decade. A multifaceted approach has been put forth by the United States National Drug Control Strategy to combat PO abuse, one aspect of which is expanding the extent to which health care professionals detect and address substance use disorders. Despite little exploration of pharmacist provided PO abuse/misuse interventions, our previous research reveals that 26% of TN community pharmacists have provided addiction treatment facility information to one or more patients in the past, and 13% of pharmacists have addiction treatment facility information in their pharmacies. The objective of this study is to investigate the associations between community pharmacist and community pharmacy characteristics and the provision of addiction treatment facility information to pharmacy patients. Methods: A survey was administered to a stratified random sample of licensed TN pharmacists in 2012 using Dillman’s Tailored Design Method. The survey instrument assessed community pharmacists’ attitudes, beliefs and behaviors specific to prescription drug abuse communication. Logistic regression techniques were used to identify correlates of provision of addiction facility information by pharmacists. Results: A response rate of 40% was obtained. Univariate logistic regression analysis indicated the provision of addiction treatment information was associated with being male, increased average number of hours worked per week, having addiction treatment information readily available in the pharmacy, higher self-efficacy beliefs regarding ability to discuss addiction treatment facility options, discuss perceived PO abuse, and discuss perceived PO addiction with patients, participation in PO abuse specific continuing education (CE), and employment in an independent pharmacy setting. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that being male (OR = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.4-3.6), having high task-specific self-efficacy beliefs (OR = 4.2; 95% CI = 2.7-6.5), working more hours (OR = 1.00; 95% CI = 1.02-1.05), participating in prescription drug abuse-related CE (OR = 2.9; 95% CI = 1.7-5.0), and having treatment facility information in the practice setting (OR = 8.2; 95% CI = 4.4-15.4) were statistically significant predictors of information provision. Implications: As interventions and models are developed that expand prevention and treatment efforts, factors should be considered that influence health care providers’ prescription drug abuse/misusedeterrent behaviors. Our research has the potential to inform these interventions and thereby expand the extent to which community pharmacists engage in the detection and care of patients with substance use disorders.

Naloxone has received increased public health attention in recent years given its effectiveness in the reversal of opioid overdoses. Despite continued increases in overdose death rates attributable to opioids, approaches to naloxone dissemination, prescribing and dispensing are quite variable across states. On the public health prevention continuum, naloxone dissemination and use could be considered quaternary prevention —actions taken to identify individuals at risk of over-medication, protect them from new medical invasion and suggest interventions which are ethically acceptable. This presentation will describe approaches to overdose death prevention with naloxone in four states: Maine, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. Particular emphasis will be placed on the role of community pharmacies in increasing naloxone dissemination. Attendees will be informed about recent legislative, educational and profession-specific prevention strategies and will thereafter engage in active learning to apply prevention strategies in their respective states. In addition to discussing barriers to and suggestions for increased naloxone uptake, presenters will describe assessments that can be used to evaluate overdose risk and subsequent naloxone co-prescribing/dispensing.