Northeast Tennessee Community Pharmacists' Perspectives on Opioid Use Disorder

Additional Authors

Ibrahim Boateng, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN. Zachary Cale, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN. Tanor Parton, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN.

Abstract

Community pharmacists are significantly involved in the addiction recovery landscape in multiple ways, including through dispensing prescribed medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD). Pharmacy-based factors that may complicate OUD treatment outcomes include medication accessibility issues and real or perceived stigmatizing experiences within the pharmacy environment. As a recurrent topic of research in the Northeast Tennessee region for more than a decade, this study seeks to develop an updated understanding of local community pharmacists’ attitudes and beliefs about individuals living with substance use disorders, OUD treatment medications, and pharmacy-based strategies for OUD management and harm reduction. Anonymous paper surveys will be distributed to a random selection of 50 community pharmacies in Carter, Sullivan, and Washington Counties in Tennessee. Up to four actively licensed community pharmacists who dispense medications for OUD treatment will be invited to complete the survey at each site. Survey items will include Likert-type, categorical, and open-ended questions about the survey themes and participants’ demographics and professional backgrounds. Descriptive analysis of the collected quantitative data will be conducted in SPSS Version 29. Open-ended responses will undergo thematic analysis by the study team. The results of this study are expected to inform initiatives in pharmacy education, professional development, and/or health care policy to improve pharmacy-based OUD treatment access and recovery support in a region heavily impacted by the opioid epidemic.

Start Time

16-4-2025 9:00 AM

End Time

16-4-2025 11:30 AM

Presentation Type

Poster

Presentation Category

Health

Student Type

Clinical Doctoral Student (e.g., medical student, pharmacy student)

Faculty Mentor

KariLynn Dowling

Faculty Department

Pharmacy Practice

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Apr 16th, 9:00 AM Apr 16th, 11:30 AM

Northeast Tennessee Community Pharmacists' Perspectives on Opioid Use Disorder

Community pharmacists are significantly involved in the addiction recovery landscape in multiple ways, including through dispensing prescribed medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD). Pharmacy-based factors that may complicate OUD treatment outcomes include medication accessibility issues and real or perceived stigmatizing experiences within the pharmacy environment. As a recurrent topic of research in the Northeast Tennessee region for more than a decade, this study seeks to develop an updated understanding of local community pharmacists’ attitudes and beliefs about individuals living with substance use disorders, OUD treatment medications, and pharmacy-based strategies for OUD management and harm reduction. Anonymous paper surveys will be distributed to a random selection of 50 community pharmacies in Carter, Sullivan, and Washington Counties in Tennessee. Up to four actively licensed community pharmacists who dispense medications for OUD treatment will be invited to complete the survey at each site. Survey items will include Likert-type, categorical, and open-ended questions about the survey themes and participants’ demographics and professional backgrounds. Descriptive analysis of the collected quantitative data will be conducted in SPSS Version 29. Open-ended responses will undergo thematic analysis by the study team. The results of this study are expected to inform initiatives in pharmacy education, professional development, and/or health care policy to improve pharmacy-based OUD treatment access and recovery support in a region heavily impacted by the opioid epidemic.