Citation

Uosukainen H, Turunen JH, Ilomäki J, Bell JS. Int. J. Drug Policy 2014; 25(6): 1139-1142.

Affiliation

School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.drugpo.2014.05.009

PMID

24953214

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Clients perceive pharmacists' attitudes as an important aspect of community pharmacy services for drug misuse. This study explored Finnish pharmacists' attitudes in relation to community pharmacy services for drug misuse.

METHODS: A cross-sectional mail survey of Finnish community pharmacies was conducted in October 2012. Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used to compare the attitudes of pharmacists who worked in pharmacies which dispensed buprenorphine-naloxone (n=77) to those of pharmacists who worked in matched comparison pharmacies which did not dispense buprenorphine-naloxone (n=236).

RESULTS: Pharmacists who worked in pharmacies which dispensed buprenorphine-naloxone were more likely to perceive that dispensing opioid substitution treatment (OST) is part of pharmacists' professional role (62% vs. 27%, p<0.001) and less likely to be concerned about safety (39% vs. 73%, p<0.001), the public image of the pharmacy as a result of dispensing OST (17% vs. 34%, p<0.001) and diversion (56% vs. 73%, p=0.011) than pharmacists who worked in comparison pharmacies.

CONCLUSIONS: Negative attitudes towards community pharmacy services for drug misuse still exist, especially among pharmacists who do not dispense buprenorphine-naloxone. Further research is needed into mechanisms to improve attitudes as provision of community pharmacy services is expanded.

Language: en