ResearchPharmacist self-reported antidepressant medication counseling
Section snippets
Objectives
The primary objectives of this study were to identify the extent of pharmacist self-reported involvement in antidepressant counseling and to identify factors that affected pharmacists’ decisions to provide antidepressant counseling.
Methods
This study used a cross-sectional descriptive design. Study and data use procedures received expedited review status from the institutional review board of the authors’ institution. The population was Alabama community pharmacies. Conducting this study in only one state was deemed advantageous because it allowed for more control of external factors (e.g., counseling laws) that might affect pharmacists’ antidepressant counseling behavior. Implementing the study in a southeastern state was
Results
Of the 600 survey instruments mailed, 22 were undeliverable as addressed. Of the 119 returned, 118 were considered complete (≥80% questions answered). The overall response rate was 20.6%. The 119 responses included 23 electronic (19.3%) and 96 paper (80.7%) surveys.
In the nonresponse bias investigation, early and late respondents differed regarding number of years pharmacists have been practicing at their current sites. The majority of late respondents had worked at their current sites for 5
Discussion
The primary objectives of the study were to identify the extent of pharmacist self-reported involvement in antidepressant counseling and identify factors that affected pharmacists’ decisions to provide antidepressant counseling using aspects of the TPB and CSM. Our results suggest that pharmacists’ SRAC varied across 10 unique counseling behaviors and support those who also reported that pharmacist engagement in antidepressant counseling activities vary.30 The levels of antidepressant
Limitations
Because a cross-sectional design was used, any conclusions about cause and effect relationships cannot be inferred. A second limitation was the low response rate, potentially introducing risk of bias among responses. The presence of statistical significance for some study variables suggests a strong relationship; however, the low response rate needs to be considered when interpreting the absence of statistical significance for other study variables. Another limitation is self-selection for
Conclusion
The extent of pharmacists’ SRAC was suboptimal. Relationships between factors that affect pharmacists’ decisions to provide antidepressant counseling and pharmacists’ self-reported provision of antidepressant counseling were identified. SRAC behaviors were related to the degree that pharmacists’ recognized the impact of depression on patients’ lives, obtaining antidepressant-related knowledge and skills, and pharmacists’ confidence in their current knowledge, skills, and ability to communicate
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Disclosure: The authors declare no conflicts of interest or financial interests in any product or service mentioned in this article, including grants, employment, gifts, stock holdings, or honoraria.
Acknowledgment: To the Alabama community pharmacists who participated in this study.
Funding: Supported by the American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education Predoctoral Fellowship in Pharmaceutical Science Program and the Auburn University Graduate School Graduate Dissertation Research Award Program.
Previous presentation: American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Annual Meeting, Kissimmee, FL, July 15, 2012.