Community pharmacist knowledge, attitudes and confidence regarding naloxone for overdose reversal

Abstract

Aim: Given the potential to expand naloxone supply through community pharmacy, the aim of this study was to estimate Australian pharmacists': (1) level of support for overdose prevention, (2) barriers and facilitators for naloxone supply and (3) knowledge about naloxone administration.

Design: Online survey from nationally representative sample of community pharmacies.

Setting: Australia, September-November 2015.

Participants: A total of 1317 community pharmacists were invited to participate with 595 responses (45.1%).

Measurements: We assessed attitudes towards harm reduction, support for overdose prevention, attitudes and knowledge about naloxone. We tested the association between attitudes towards harm reduction and different aspects of naloxone supply.

Findings: Pharmacists were willing to receive training about naloxone (n = 479, 80.5%) and provide naloxone with a prescription (n = 537, 90.3%). Fewer (n = 234, 40.8%) were willing to supply naloxone over-the-counter. Positive attitudes towards harm reduction were associated with greater willingness to supply naloxone with a prescription [odds ratio (OR) = 1.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.11-1.19] and over-the-counter (OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.09-1.17). Few pharmacists were confident they could identify appropriate patients (n = 203, 34.1%) and educate them on overdose and naloxone use (n = 190, 31.9%). Mean naloxone knowledge scores were 1.8 (standard deviation 1.7) out of 5. More than half the sample identified lack of time, training, knowledge and reimbursement as potential barriers for naloxone provision.

Conclusion: Community pharmacists in Australia appear to be willing to supply naloxone. Low levels of knowledge about naloxone pharmacology and administration highlight the importance of training pharmacists about overdose prevention.

Keywords: Community pharmacy; naloxone; opioid; opioid antagonist; overdose; pharmacist.