title: Community Pharmacy Practice Barriers in Preventing Drug Misuse, Divergence and Overdose: A Focus Group Study.
abstract: Community pharmacists frequently encounter patients suspected to be at risk of medication misuse, divergence and overdose; yet, little research exists in describing how pharmacists effectively identify and intervene during these encounters. This study aimed to understand the barriers and facilitators in community pharmacy practice using a focus group design to help inform policymakers in the development of effective and feasible strategies for limiting the means of medication misuse. Findings revealed three themes: (1) patient-level barriers (deciphering signs of misuse); (2) pharmacist-level barriers (type of practice experience); and (3) system-level barriers (prescriber, third-party payer). Insight into pharmacy practice provided a foundation for future study to explore strategies for improving care for at-risk patients.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor at the College of Pharmacy at the University of Manitoba and a practicing clinical pharmacist in primary care.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leong
authors.affiliation: Assistant Head for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority Adult Mental Health Program. He is a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Manitoba and Director of Research and Anxiety Services in the Department of Psychiatry.
authors.forename: Jitender
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sareen
authors.affiliation: Psychiatrist and expert in mood disorders and suicide. He is a Professor and the Head of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Manitoba and the Medical Director of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority Adult Mental Health Program.
authors.forename: Murray W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Enns
authors.affiliation: Associate professor at the University of Manitoba in the Department of Psychiatry and expert in suicide research. He is a practicing psychiatrist in the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, and the Medical Director of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority Crisis Response Centre.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bolton
authors.affiliation: Associate professor at the University of Manitoba in the College of Pharmacy where she teaches at the graduate and undergraduate level. Her research expertise is pharmacoepidemiology, with specific interest in psychotropic medication use.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alessi-Severini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000458:organization & administration*; D064226:Prescription Drug Diversion / Q000517:prevention & control*; D063487:Prescription Drug Misuse / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult