TY - JOUR
T1 - Factors influencing pharmacy services in opioid substitution treatment
AU - Chaar, Betty B.
AU - Wang, Holly
AU - Day, Carolyn A.
AU - Hanrahan, Jane R.
AU - Winstock, Adam R.
AU - Fois, Romano
N1 - © 2013 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs
PY - 2013/7/1
Y1 - 2013/7/1
N2 - Introduction and Aim: Heroin dependence is a serious health burden in Australia. Opioid substitution treatment (OST) has been delivered in Australian community pharmacies since 1985. The effectiveness of pharmacy-based OST is evident and the demand is increasing; however, the participation rate of community pharmacies is low, with over 60% non-providers. While previous Australian studies have focused on perspectives of community pharmacists providing the service, the views of non-providers have not yet been explored. This study aimed to further investigate factors influencing pharmacists' participation in provision of OST in the community pharmacy setting in New South Wales, Australia. Design and Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 35 NSW community pharmacists (20 providers, 15 non-providers). Transcripts of interviews were thematically analysed. Results: Factors influencing non-providers were mainly stigma and fear, the nature of an opt-in scheme, professionals' moral responsibilities, lack of awareness and knowledge, disproportionate distribution of clients and lack of financial support for OST clients. Providers were motivated by positive attitudes, functional relationships with OST clients/stakeholders, professional satisfaction and financial rewards. Recommendations to improve participation in OST services were offered by both groups. Discussion and Conclusion: This study explored views from both OST providers and non-providers, revealing a number of previously undocumented barriers that affect the uptake of OST provision in New South Wales community pharmacies. There were also profound ethical issues raised for consideration. These findings may help inform future policies aimed at encouraging pharmacists' provision of OST, to address the unmet needs of the ever-increasing number of heroin-dependent clients in the community. [Chaar BB, Wang H, Day CA, Hanrahan JR, Winstock AR, Fois R. Factors influencing pharmacy services in opioid substitution treatment.
AB - Introduction and Aim: Heroin dependence is a serious health burden in Australia. Opioid substitution treatment (OST) has been delivered in Australian community pharmacies since 1985. The effectiveness of pharmacy-based OST is evident and the demand is increasing; however, the participation rate of community pharmacies is low, with over 60% non-providers. While previous Australian studies have focused on perspectives of community pharmacists providing the service, the views of non-providers have not yet been explored. This study aimed to further investigate factors influencing pharmacists' participation in provision of OST in the community pharmacy setting in New South Wales, Australia. Design and Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 35 NSW community pharmacists (20 providers, 15 non-providers). Transcripts of interviews were thematically analysed. Results: Factors influencing non-providers were mainly stigma and fear, the nature of an opt-in scheme, professionals' moral responsibilities, lack of awareness and knowledge, disproportionate distribution of clients and lack of financial support for OST clients. Providers were motivated by positive attitudes, functional relationships with OST clients/stakeholders, professional satisfaction and financial rewards. Recommendations to improve participation in OST services were offered by both groups. Discussion and Conclusion: This study explored views from both OST providers and non-providers, revealing a number of previously undocumented barriers that affect the uptake of OST provision in New South Wales community pharmacies. There were also profound ethical issues raised for consideration. These findings may help inform future policies aimed at encouraging pharmacists' provision of OST, to address the unmet needs of the ever-increasing number of heroin-dependent clients in the community. [Chaar BB, Wang H, Day CA, Hanrahan JR, Winstock AR, Fois R. Factors influencing pharmacy services in opioid substitution treatment.
KW - Australian pharmacist
KW - Disproportionate distribution of clientele
KW - Pharmacy OST service
KW - Professionals' moral responsibility
KW - Providers' and non-providers' perspective
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84879882095&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/dar.12032
DO - 10.1111/dar.12032
M3 - Article
C2 - 23442133
AN - SCOPUS:84879882095
SN - 0959-5236
VL - 32
SP - 426
EP - 434
JO - Drug and Alcohol Review
JF - Drug and Alcohol Review
IS - 4
ER -