Original Research
Saturday, November 11, 2023
11:30 AM–01:00 PM
Abstract
Introduction: Racial disparities in opioid overdose exist, with Black, Indigenous, and Hispanic individuals experiencing higher rates of deaths. Harm reduction strategies, such as opioid deprescribing and naloxone dispensing, have been identified as ways to prevent opioid overdose. Pharmacists can implement these harm reduction strategies, but little is known about their implementation across racial or ethnic groups.
Research Question or Hypothesis: Are there gaps in pharmacist knowledge, attitudes, and/or practices (KAP) of opioid management practices, including opioid deprescribing and naloxone dispensing, broadly and across different patient racial or ethnic groups?
Study Design: Cross-sectional, survey-based study
Methods: A web-based KAP survey was distributed via email to NC pharmacists using a modified Dillman’s method. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze pharmacists’ demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and practice data. Attitudes data were further analyzed using one-way ANOVA tests and Tukey’s post-hoc analyses.
Results: The survey response rate was 5.6%. Respondents were mostly female (59.1%) and White (86.6%). Approximately half of pharmacists knew the correct opioid morphine milliequivalent (MME) cutoffs considered to be high risk (47.7%) and not to be exceeded (51.9%). Pharmacists overestimated that 23.7% of patients that take chronic opioids have access to naloxone. Pharmacists believed that Black patients were more likely to adhere to a naloxone taper compared to any other race or ethnicity and Hispanic patients were more likely to adhere to naloxone treatment compared to any other race or ethnicity. Finally, 91% of pharmacists knew what an opioid taper was, but 77% of pharmacists had never designed one.
Conclusion: Gaps in knowledge may contribute to disparities in opioid management. Pharmacists’ attitudes contribute to biases in opioid management practices and practices related to opioid tapering may limit the pharmacists’ current role. More education is needed so pharmacists can play an increased role in opioid management across all patient populations.
Presenting Author
Stephanie Martin PharmD CandidateUniversity of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy
Authors
Tamera Hughes PharmD, PhD
UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy
Stefanie Ferreri PharmD
UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy
Jessica Roller PharmD
Pfizer