The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #46659

Jay H Mashburn, MS, RPh and Carolyn M Brown, PhD, RPh. Pharmacy Administration, The University of Texas at Austin, College of Pharmacy, Austin, TX 78712, 972-317-0016, jhackburn@yahoo.com

An estimated 30 to 40 percent of all diagnosed AIDS cases reported in the U.S. have been linked to injection drug use. Public health initiatives have encouraged increased intravenous drug users°¯ (IDUs) access to sterile syringes, and one emerging strategy involves community pharmacies. Community pharmacists have participated in pharmacy-based needle provision programs throughout the U.S. However, little is known about factors that influence their willingness to provide sterile syringes to IDUs.

The Theory of Planned Behavior (TBP) (attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control) as well as past behavior were used to predict community pharmacists°¯ willingness to provide sterile syringes to IDUs. A questionnaire was developed from three focus groups that elicited attitudinal beliefs, social influences and perceived behavioral control factors and was mailed to 500 randomly selected Texas community pharmacists. Attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, past behavior, and demographic/practice setting characteristics were obtained from 163 Texas community pharmacists who responded. Logistic regression was used to predict their willingness to provide sterile syringes. All statistical analyses were conducted at an alpha level of p<0.05. Overall, 55 percent of respondents were not willing to provide sterile syringes to IDUs. Pharmacists with positive attitudes and a past history of providing sterile syringes to IDUs were significantly more likely to be willing to provide sterile syringes to IDUs. Subjective norms (SN) and perceived behavioral control (PBC) were not statistically significant. In conclusion, attitude modification strategies should be examined to increase community pharmacists°¯ willingness to provide sterile syringes to known or suspected IDUs.

Learning Objectives:

• a. Assess Texas community pharmacistsĄ¯ attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and willingness toward the provision of sterile syringes to known or suspected intravenous drug users (IDUs).
• b. Identify the factors that influence Texas community pharmacistsĄ¯willingness to provide sterile syringes to known or suspected IDUs.

Keywords: Pharmacies, HIV/AIDS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.