title: Association between community pharmacy loyalty and persistence and implementation of antipsychotic treatment among individuals with schizophrenia.
abstract: Non-adherence is a major obstacle to optimal treatment of schizophrenia. Community pharmacists are in a key position to detect non-adherence and put in place interventions. Their role is likely to be more efficient when individuals are loyal to a single pharmacy.
  
  
  
  To assess the association between the level of community pharmacy loyalty and persistence with and implementation of antipsychotic drug treatment among individuals with schizophrenia.
  
  
  
  A cohort study using databases from the Quebec health insurance board (Canada) was conducted among new antipsychotic users insured by Quebec's public drug plan. Level of community pharmacy loyalty was assessed as the number of pharmacies visited in the year after antipsychotics initiation. Persistence was defined as having an antipsychotic supply in the user's possession on the 730thday after its initiation and implementation as having antipsychotics in the user's possession for ≥80% of the days in the second year after antipsychotics initiation (among persistent only). Generalized linear models were used to estimate adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI).
  
  
  
  6,251 individuals were included in the cohort and 54.1% had their drug prescriptions filled in >1 pharmacy. When compared to those who had their prescriptions filled in a single pharmacy, those who had their prescriptions filled in ≥4 different pharmacies were 22% more likely to be non-persistent (aPR = 1.22; 95%CI = 1.10-1.37) and 49% more likely to have an antipsychotic for <80% of the days (aPR = 1.49; 95%IC = 1.28-1.74).
  
  
  
  This first exploration of community pharmacy loyalty in the context of severe mental illness indicates that this healthcare organisation factor might be associated with antipsychotics persistence and implementation. Identification of individuals with low community pharmacy loyalty and initiatives to optimize community pharmacy loyalty could contribute to enhanced persistence and implementation.
authors.affiliation: Chair on Adherence to Treatments, Université Laval, 1050 chemin Ste-Foy, Québec, QC, Canada; CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Centre, Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit, 1050 chemin Ste-Foy, Québec, QC, Canada; Faculty of Pharmacy, Université Laval, 1050 Avenue de la Médecine, Québec, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Frank E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Zongo
authors.affiliation: Chair on Adherence to Treatments, Université Laval, 1050 chemin Ste-Foy, Québec, QC, Canada; CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Centre, Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit, 1050 chemin Ste-Foy, Québec, QC, Canada; Faculty of Pharmacy, Université Laval, 1050 Avenue de la Médecine, Québec, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Jocelyne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moisan
authors.affiliation: Chair on Adherence to Treatments, Université Laval, 1050 chemin Ste-Foy, Québec, QC, Canada; CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Centre, Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit, 1050 chemin Ste-Foy, Québec, QC, Canada; Faculty of Pharmacy, Université Laval, 1050 Avenue de la Médecine, Québec, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Grégoire
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche Fernand-Seguin, Hôpital Louis-H. Lafontaine, Unité 218, 7331 Rue Hochelaga, Montréal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lesage
authors.affiliation: Chair on Adherence to Treatments, Université Laval, 1050 chemin Ste-Foy, Québec, QC, Canada; CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Centre, Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit, 1050 chemin Ste-Foy, Québec, QC, Canada; Faculty of Pharmacy, Université Laval, 1050 Avenue de la Médecine, Québec, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Anara Richi
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Dossa
authors.affiliation: Chair on Adherence to Treatments, Université Laval, 1050 chemin Ste-Foy, Québec, QC, Canada; CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Centre, Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit, 1050 chemin Ste-Foy, Québec, QC, Canada; Faculty of Pharmacy, Université Laval, 1050 Avenue de la Médecine, Québec, QC, Canada. Electronic address: sophie.lauzier@pha.ulaval.ca.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lauzier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000458:organization & administration; D024382:Professional Role; D011792:Quebec; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055815:Young Adult; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents
keywords: Antipsychotics; Community pharmacy services; Continuity of patient care; Medication adherence; Pharmaceutical services; Schizophrenia