title: Community-Based Pharmacists' Needs for HIV-Related Training and Experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine pharmacists' self-reported competence in providing care to persons living with HIV (PLWH) and their HIV-related training and experience needs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We interviewed 28 community-based pharmacists providing care to PLWH in 4 Midwestern cities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Less than half (46%) of the pharmacists considered themselves competent to provide PLWH care, and less than a third (29%) worked with PLWH during their pharmacy residency. Specialty pharmacists need training on opportunistic infections and HIV-related comorbidities, nonspecialty pharmacists need general training in HIV treatment and patient communications skills, and all pharmacists require a mechanism to keep updated in the latest HIV treatment recommendations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the current era of patient-centered care, a pharmacist that is well rounded-not just in dispensing antiretroviral medications but highly knowledgeable in different aspects of ART and HIV-specific patient care-can make a valuable contribution to the health care team. Pharmacy school curricula and continuing professional education need to be aligned to meet the knowledge and competency needs of community pharmacists who are strategically positioned to provide care to PLWH.
authors: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, College of Nursing, Milwaukee, WI, USA kibicho@uwm.edu.
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Kibicho
authors: Medical College of Wisconsin, Center for AIDS Intervention Research (CAIR), Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors: Steven D
authors: SD
authors: Pinkerton
authors: John Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, WI, USA.
authors: Jill
authors: J
authors: Owczarzak
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003142:Communication; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D003479:Curriculum; D004512:Education, Pharmacy; D004513:Education, Pharmacy, Continuing / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011361:Professional Competence; D024382:Professional Role; D013038:Specialization
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents
keywords: HIV disease; adherence; medication safety; patient-centered care