Community pharmacists' awareness of and involvement with medications intended for use in primary and secondary schools.
OBJECTIVE
To observe the degree to which community pharmacists are aware of and involved in issues related to the use of medications in primary and secondary schools and to identify the interventions they use to deal with these issues.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
Illinois.


METHODS
569 licensed pharmacists with community pharmacy experience.


METHODS
A survey comprising questions about the experiences, attitudes, and behaviors of community pharmacists with regard to medication use in schools was mailed in June 2003.


METHODS
Descriptive and bivariate statistical analysis of survey items.


RESULTS
Almost all respondents reported that they had dispensed medications for use in school; two thirds thought that taking medications at school creates the potential for special problems (e.g., missed dose, social stigma). Of nine interventions that could help minimize these problems, the respondents used a mean of 3.34 interventions. Providing additional labeled containers for use at school was the most common intervention reported. Respondents who thought that medication use in schools caused special problems provided significantly more interventions than those that did not share this concern.


CONCLUSIONS
Pharmacists are aware of and involved in the issues and potential problems created by medication use in schools. While they make use of interventions that are available to all community pharmacists, they could do more to help resolve issues. Additional effort to raise pharmacist awareness about medication use in schools is warranted.
Reutzel
Thomas J
TJ
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy, 555 31st Street, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA. treutz@midwestern.edu
Holtorff
Michelle
M
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001364:Awareness; D002648:Child; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D020408:Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000523:psychology; D012572:School Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States