title: First insights into community pharmacy based buprenorphine-naloxone dispensing in Finland.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Finnish community pharmacies have been permitted to dispense buprenorphine-naloxone since February 2008. This study explored the dispensing practices, service experiences, problems encountered and opportunities for future development.
  
  
  METHODS
  In August 2011, a questionnaire was mailed to all Finnish community pharmacies dispensing buprenorphine-naloxone (n=69).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-four pharmacies responded (93%), of which 54 had dispensed buprenorphine-naloxone to 155 clients since 2008. Forty-eight pharmacies had 108 current clients (10% of all buprenorphine-naloxone clients in Finland). Overall satisfaction with buprenorphine-naloxone dispensing was high, with all respondents indicating dispensing had gone 'well' or 'very well'. Fourteen pharmacies (26%) had experienced one or more problems, predominately in relation timing or non-collection of doses. Problems were more common in pharmacies with more than one buprenorphine-naloxone client (odds ratio 1.39, 95% confidence interval 1.05-1.86). Most pharmacies (n=43, 80%) identified opportunities for improvement, including the need for more education and financial remuneration. Forty-six pharmacies (85%) were willing to dispense buprenorphine-naloxone to more clients; however, 43 pharmacies (80%) perceived that supervision of buprenorphine-naloxone dosing is not a suitable task for pharmacists in Finland.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Provision of buprenorphine-naloxone in Finnish community pharmacies has remained relatively small-scale. As experiences have been generally positive and problems rare, it may be possible to expand these services.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland. Electronic address: hanna.uosukainen@uef.fi.
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uosukainen
authors.forename: J Simon
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Kirsti
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Laitinen
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tacke
authors.forename: Jenni
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ilomäki
authors.forename: Juha H O
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Turunen
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D009270:Naloxone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D009270:Naloxone; D002047:Buprenorphine
keywords: Buprenorphine-naloxone; Community pharmacy; Opioid substitution treatment