Literature Collection

Background: The opioid epidemic is a public health crisis. Among initiatives surrounding treatment and prevention, opioid use disorder (OUD) stigma has emerged as a subject for intervention. Objectives: This study examines overall results and demographic differences of three subscales of a public stigma survey instrument: general attitudes, social distance, and treatment availability and effectiveness. Methods: A statewide sample of Pennsylvanian adults (N = 1033) completed an online survey about the opioid epidemic. Weighted percentage level of agreement was reported for each item. To determine significant differences in responding across demographic groups (gender, race, and urban/rural status), multiple one-way ANOVAs were analyzed. Significant differences in the level of agreement and disagreement (p < .05) were reported. Results: The majority of respondents agreed that the opioid epidemic is a problem and that anyone can become addicted to opioids; however, many Pennsylvanians still disagree that OUD is a medical disorder and continue to endorse social distance beliefs of people with OUD. Most participants agreed that there are effective treatments available, and that recovery was possible; however, a large portion of participants were unsure whether specific treatments are effective. Subscale mean differences were significant for gender and age. Conclusions/Importance: Findings highlight that stigmatized attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs about individuals who use opioids are still prevalent and that uncertainty remains about the effectiveness of OUD treatment. OUD interventions should use targeted messaging in order to impact the ongoing opioid crisis.

BACKGROUND: Community pharmacists' practice has shifted from product-oriented to patient-oriented in recent decades with the goal of achieving the optimal use of medications while enhancing the patient's quality of life. The impact of pharmaceutical care services provided by community pharmacists is yet to be determined. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to summarize the findings from secondary literature on pharmacist-led pharmaceutical care interventions and their impact on clinical, economic, humanistic, and behavioral outcomes of patients attending community pharmacies. METHODS: An overview of systematic reviews, with or without meta-analysis, was conducted using PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library databases. Articles published up until October 2023 were identified. The following data were extracted: eligible study details, the country in which the study was conducted, year, population, interventions, and resulting outcomes. RESULTS: Out of 310 publications, 90 full-text articles were evaluated for eligibility, and 29 studies that evaluated the impact of pharmacy services provided within the community pharmacies were selected. The articles covered patients with or without health conditions. Interventions were diverse, focusing on a patient-centered approach, varying between collaborating with other healthcare professionals to achieve desired health outcomes or collaborating with patients through education and counseling and promoting healthier lifestyles. Improving patients' medication adherence and understanding of their conditions resulted in better clinical and behavioral outcomes. While evidence on economic and humanistic outcomes is less conclusive, some studies suggest that these services can lead to cost savings, improved quality of life, and patient satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Pharmacy services provided by community pharmacists can lead to an improvement in clinical and behavioral outcomes. While there is some evidence indicating benefits in economic and humanistic outcomes, this evidence is less consistent and should be interpreted cautiously. This umbrella review highlights the importance of further research to strengthen the evidence base and guide the integration of pharmacy services into healthcare systems worldwide, supporting the shift to a patient-centered approach.