Patient preferences and perceived barriers to follow-up care in a pharmacy-based colorectal cancer screening program: a national survey.

Background: Fecal immunochemical tests (FIT) are recommended for routine colorectal cancer (CRC) screening because they are cost-effective, non-invasive, and convenient. Pharmacy-based CRC screening using FIT kits could be effective to improve screening rates, particularly in medically underserved communities. However, data on follow-up procedures and barriers after positive FIT results in this context remain sparse.

It's a good idea, but are they willing? Assessing pharmacist willingness to deliver colorectal cancer screening.

Background: Accessibility, expanding scope of practice, and a rapidly changing policy landscape make US community pharmacies a promising delivery setting for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. It is not clear, however, whether community pharmacists are willing to incorporate CRC screening into their pharmacy practice, what potential drivers of willingness are, and, if unwilling, under what conditions pharmacists would be willing to provide PharmFIT™.

Methods: From September 2022 to January 2023, we surveyed 578 currently practicing community pharmacists.

Testing different models of pharmacy-based HIV pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis initiation and management in Kenya: protocol for a cluster-randomized controlled trial.

Background: In Kenya, as in many African countries, private pharmacies are ubiquitous, frequently accessed, and underutilized for the delivery of HIV prevention services. Whether enabling private pharmacies to initiate and manage clients on HIV pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP) leads to greater uptake and continuation than the current standard-pharmacy referral to clinic-based PrEP/PEP-is unknown. To address this gap and inform how private pharmacies might partner with the public sector, we are testing several models of pharmacy-delivered PrEP/PEP in comparison to the current standard.

Not just about pills: Findings from a national survey of pharmacists to understand their views on addressing social determinants of health.

Objective: We evaluated community pharmacists' perspectives on addressing social determinants of health for their patients in the United States.

Methods: From 9/2022-1/2023, we conducted a national, online survey of 578 pharmacists to evaluate their perspectives on social barriers affecting their patients, their pharmacy staff's ability to address these social barriers, and resources available or needed to address barriers.

Results: Healthcare access and quality was perceived as the most addressable social barrier (59 %), while education (24 %) and neighborhood/built environment were perceived as the least addressable (14 %).

Pediatric vaccination in pharmacies is not associated with delayed well-child visits among commercially insured children.

Pediatric vaccination rates in the United States lag national goals. Policies that expand pharmacy-based vaccinations among children could help improve vaccination rates. Opponents argue, however, that such policies will result in delayed or missed well-child visits as most children receive routine vaccinations in primary care settings.

Vaccination payments in states with provider status for pharmacists: A claims analysis.

Background: Federal-level legislation to recognize pharmacists as providers and thus allow insurance reimbursement for health services claims, not just prescription drug claims (known as provider status), has been advocated for by the profession but is yet to be passed into federal law. Several state governments have enacted this recognition for commercial insurance and/or Medicaid plans. However, the impact of these laws on reimbursement and access to health services has yet to be explored empirically.

Factors that shape COVID-19 pediatric vaccine decision-making in rural agricultural communities: A qualitative study.

While COVID-19 immunizations can improve outcomes from SARS-CoV-2, vaccine rates in the United States have been lowest among children under age 11 and among rural agricultural communities. This study examined factors influencing pediatric COVID-19 vaccine uptake among rural agricultural and predominantly Hispanic communities in Washington State. We conducted in-depth interviews with school district employees and students and held English and Spanish focus group discussions with parents, all of which were audio-recorded and transcribed.

Colorectal cancer screening knowledge among community pharmacists: A national survey.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening can reduce CRC morbidity and mortality. Community pharmacies could be a viable option for delivering home-based CRC screening tests such as fecal immunochemical tests (FITs). However, little is known about community pharmacists' knowledge about CRC screening guidelines.

Findings From a National Survey of Older US Adults on Patient Willingness to Use Telehealth Services: Cross-Sectional Survey.

Background: Telehealth (telemedicine and telepharmacy) services increase access to patient services and ensure continuity of care. However, few studies have assessed factors that influence patients' willingness to use telehealth services, and we sought to investigate this.

Objective: This study aims to examine respondents' (aged between 45 and 75 years) willingness to use telehealth services (telepharmacy and telemedicine) and the correlates of the willingness to use telehealth services.

Locations and characteristics of pharmacy deserts in the United States: a geospatial study.

Pharmacies are important health care access points, but no national map currently exists of where pharmacy deserts are located. This cross-sectional study used pharmacy address data and Census Bureau surveys to define pharmacy deserts at the census tract level in all 50 US states and the District of Columbia. We also compared sociodemographic characteristics of pharmacy desert vs non-pharmacy desert communities.

The Acceptability of Pharmacy-Based HPV Vaccination in Western Kenya among Pharmacy Clients and Providers.

Vaccine coverage for the human papillomavirus (HPV) remains low globally, and differentiated models of vaccine delivery are needed to expand access. Pharmacy-based models of the HPV vaccination may engage women who could benefit. We assessed the acceptability of such a model among pharmacy clients and providers at 20 private pharmacies in Kisumu County, Kenya.

Patient Willingness to Use a Pharmacy-Based Colorectal Cancer Screening Service: A National Survey of U.S. Adults.

Background: We aimed to understand U.S. adults' willingness to use a pharmacy-based fecal immunochemical test (FIT) distribution service for routine colorectal cancer screening called PharmFIT using Diffusion of Innovation Theory, evaluating patient's appraisals of the program's relative advantage, compatibility, and complexity.

Patient perspectives on a proposed pharmacy-based colorectal cancer screening program.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common and preventable cancer. CRC screening is underutilized, particularly within medically underserved communities. Most interventions aimed at increasing CRC screening are delivered through primary care clinics.

Primary care provider perspectives on the role of community pharmacy in colorectal cancer screening: a qualitative study.

Background: The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) lists 32 grade A or B recommended preventive services for non-pregnant United States (US) adults, including colorectal cancer screening (CRC). Little guidance is given on how to implement these services with consistency and fidelity in primary care. Given limited patient visit time and competing demands, primary care providers (PCPs) tend to prioritize a small subset of these recommendations.

Readying Community Pharmacies to Participate in COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination.

Objective: Washington State established a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and operational plan in 2012 to coordinate pharmacy infrastructure and workforce during a public health emergency. The objectives of this study were to adapt the MOU operational plan to the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and assess community pharmacies' organizational readiness to implement COVID-19 testing and vaccination.

Methods: This mixed methods study was conducted June-August 2020.

Increasing the adoption of evidence-based communication practices for HPV vaccination in primary care clinics: The HPV ECHO study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial.

Background: The safe, highly-effective human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine remains underused in the US. The Announcement Approach Training (AAT) has been shown to effectively increase HPV vaccine uptake by training providers to make strong vaccine recommendations and answer parents' common questions. Systems communications, like recall notices, can further improve HPV vaccination by reducing missed clinical opportunities for vaccination.

Patient preferences for the design of a pharmacy-based colorectal cancer screening program.

Purpose: To assess preferences for design of a pharmacy-based colorectal cancer (CRC) screening program (PharmFIT™) among screening-eligible adults in the United States (US) and explore the impact of rurality on pharmacy use patterns (e.g., pharmacy type, prescription pick-up preference, service quality rating).

Access to dental insurance and oral health inequities in the United States.

While the oral health status of the United States (U.S.) population has improved over the years, racial/ethnic inequities are pervasive with Black Americans carrying a greater burden of oral diseases in most measured outcomes.

Pharmacy deserts and COVID-19 risk at the census tract level in the State of Washington.

Community pharmacies are a crucial component of healthcare infrastructure, including for COVID-19 pandemic prevention services like testing and vaccination. Communities that are "pharmacy deserts," experience healthcare inequities. However, little research has characterized where these communities are, making it difficult for local leaders to prioritize resources for them.

Identifying the Utility of Dental Providers in Human Papillomavirus Prevention Efforts: Results From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015-2018.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to (1) examine the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in adolescents and young adults in the U.S., including those who had a dental visit in the last year but not a medical visit and (2) to determine an association between last visit to the dentist and HPV vaccination status.

Impact of Liability to Periodontitis on Glycemic Control and Type II Diabetes Risk: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

While the association of periodontitis with Type II diabetes (T2DM) is well-established, the causal relationship remains uncertain. We examined the causal association of periodontitis with glycemic traits (HbA1c, fasting glucose, and fasting insulin) and T2DM using Mendelian randomization (MR) taking advantage of large genome-wide association studies of European and East Asian adults, i.e.

Association between asthma and periodontitis in the US adult population: A population-based observational epidemiological study.

Aim: To examine the association between asthma and periodontitis in a nationally representative sample of adults in the United States.

Materials And Methods: Data obtained from 10,710 adult men and women who participated in National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey from 2009 to 2014 were analysed. Asthma was measured based on self-reported physician diagnosis.