RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated pharmacists' perceptions of the New Mexico pharmacist-performed tuberculosis skin testing (PPTST) program. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted using a telephone survey. New Mexico pharmacists who completed the tuberculin skin test (TST) training from March 2011 to June 2016 were eligible for inclusion. Data collected included demographics, years since licensure, pharmacy setting and location, reasons for obtaining certification, training time, training quality, self-perceived competency after training, whether the participant was performing TSTs, number of tests performed, time required to administer or interpret the test, and reasons for not testing. RESULTS: We attempted to contact all 209 pharmacists who completed the TST training during the evaluation period. Ninety-four of the 99 pharmacists contacted consented to participate (overall study response rate of 45%). The chain community pharmacy was the most common practice setting of respondents. After training completion, greater than 95% agreed or strongly agreed they felt confident in administering the TST. The percent of respondents working in New Mexico who were actively testing was 50.6%, with 42% of those pharmacists providing TSTs in small cities. Eleven pharmacists reported that they were performing TSTs in locations where testing would not otherwise have been available. An initial TST visit was approximately 6-15 minutes, and follow-up visits were typically 5 minutes or less. The most common reason reported for not testing was lack of employer support (61%). The strongest association with testing was training requirement by employer (odds ratio [OR], 20.4; 95% CI 4.2-99.2), followed by strong confidence in their ability to perform the TST (OR, 14.2; 95% CI 2.8-71.2). CONCLUSION: PPTST is positively perceived by New Mexico pharmacists and provides testing in non-urban areas where access may be low. Survey respondents were confident in their ability to perform the TST and report that testing typically takes less than 15 minutes. The main hindrance to implementing PPTST was lack of employer support.
Assuntos
Serviços Comunitários de Farmácia/estatística & dados numéricos , Farmacêuticos/estatística & dados numéricos , Tuberculose/diagnóstico , Adulto , Atitude do Pessoal de Saúde , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , New Mexico , Papel Profissional , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To describe differences, attitudes, and experiences in use of complementary and alternative medicines and therapy (CAMT) in people living in New Mexico (NM). DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey study. SETTING: Clinics staffed by the University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy faculty between September 2009 and August 2011 in Albuquerque, NM. PARTICIPANTS: Patients 18 years of age or older or parents of patients younger than age 18 years. OUTCOME MEASURES: Descriptive statistics for survey results and mean scores for attitudinal items. Chi-square, t-test, and analysis of variance were used to compare differences between groups across demographic variables. RESULTS: A convenience sample yielded 263 completed surveys. Of the respondents, 62% were male, 39% were single, and 50% were Hispanic. Nearly 56% of respondents used CAMT in the previous 6 months; 38% used CAMT in addition to and 11% used CAMT instead of prescription medications. Average number of CAMT used per respondent was 2.3 ± 1.6. A majority of respondents indicated that their CAMT use in the previous 6 months was useful, a good idea, easy to use, and likely to continue. CAMT use was significantly higher in female respondents (p = 0.03), those with a higher education level (p < 0.01), and those with a higher household income level (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Prevalence of CAMT is high in a diverse population of patients. Older respondents were more likely to use CAMT in addition to prescription medications, and younger respondents were more likely to use CAMT instead of prescription medications. Providers need to consider CAMT use when discussing treatment options with patients.
Assuntos
Terapias Complementares/estatística & dados numéricos , Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Adolescente , Adulto , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , New Mexico/epidemiologia , Inquéritos e Questionários , Adulto JovemRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To describe New Mexico pharmacists' knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs toward the prescribing of oral emergency contraception (EC) in their practices. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: New Mexico in January through March 2004. POTENTIAL PARTICIPANTS: New Mexico pharmacists. INTERVENTIONS: Questionnaire containing 74 items. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Mean scores were calculated for individual knowledge items, overall knowledge scores, and attitude/belief items. Knowledge and attitude/belief scores were compared across demographic variables using t tests, ANOVA, and chi-square analyses. RESULTS: Of 1392 deliverable questionnaires, 555 (40%) were returned and 523 (38%) were usable; 136 contained written comments. Pharmacists had overall knowledge scores of 71.2% +/- 11.3%. Pharmacists who had participated in a state-approved EC prescribing training program and had time in their practice setting to prescribe EC had significantly higher knowledge scores. Mean scores indicated that pharmacists have positive attitudes and beliefs toward prescribing EC. Overall, 40% of respondents indicated that they would like to become certified to prescribe EC. Pharmacists who agreed that they would like to be certified to prescribe EC were significantly more likely to be male, non-Hispanic, non-Christian, to have liberal or moderate political views, and to indicate that they had employer/manager approval, time, and privacy in their practice setting to prescribe EC. CONCLUSION: New Mexico pharmacists have positive attitudes/beliefs toward EC prescribing; however, their knowledge in this area is average. Although religious, moral, and political views influence pharmacists' willingness to prescribe EC, factors such as education and practice environment must be addressed if more pharmacists are to accept this EC prescriptive authority.