Availability of medications for opioid use disorder in outpatient and inpatient pharmacies in South Florida: a secret shopper survey
Abstract Background Despite the proven efficacy of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and recent reduction in barriers to prescribers, numerous obstacles exist for patients seeking MOUD. Prior studies have used telephone surveys to investigate pharmacy-related barriers to MOUD. We applied th...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Addiction Science & Clinical Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13722-022-00346-x |
| _version_ | 1811319241014509568 |
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| author | Alina Syros Maria G. Rodriguez Andrew C. Rennick Grace A. Dima Alexander R. Gibstein Lauren de la Parte Matthew G. Hermenau Katrina J. Ciraldo Teresa A. Chueng Hansel E. Tookes Tyler S. Bartholomew David P. Serota |
| author_facet | Alina Syros Maria G. Rodriguez Andrew C. Rennick Grace A. Dima Alexander R. Gibstein Lauren de la Parte Matthew G. Hermenau Katrina J. Ciraldo Teresa A. Chueng Hansel E. Tookes Tyler S. Bartholomew David P. Serota |
| author_sort | Alina Syros |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Despite the proven efficacy of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and recent reduction in barriers to prescribers, numerous obstacles exist for patients seeking MOUD. Prior studies have used telephone surveys to investigate pharmacy-related barriers to MOUD. We applied this methodology to evaluate inpatient and outpatient pharmacy barriers to MOUD in South Florida. Methods Randomly selected pharmacies in South Florida (Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties) were called using a standardized script with a “secret shopper” approach until 200 successful surveys had been completed. The primary outcome was the availability of any buprenorphine products. Second, a list of all 48 acute care hospitals within the aforementioned counties was compiled, and hospitals were contacted by telephone using a second structured script. Results A total of 1374 outpatient pharmacies and 48 inpatient pharmacies were identified. 378 randomly selected outpatient pharmacies were contacted to accrue 200 successful calls (53% success rate). All 48 inpatient pharmacies were contacted to successfully complete 25 inpatient surveys (52%). Of the 200 outpatient pharmacies contacted, 38% had any buprenorphine available. There was a significant difference in buprenorphine availability by county, with Miami-Dade having the least availability and Palm Beach having the most availability (27% vs. 47%, respectively; p = 0.04). Of the 38% with buprenorphine available, 82% had a sufficient supply for a two-week prescription of buprenorphine 8 mg twice daily. Of the pharmacies that did not have buprenorphine, 55% would be willing to order with a median estimated time to receive an order of 2 days (IQR 1.25–3 days). Of the 25 surveyed inpatient pharmacies, 88% reported having buprenorphine on inpatient formulary, and 55% of hospitals had at least one restriction on ordering of buprenorphine beyond federal regulations. Conclusions The results of this study highlight significant pharmacy-related barriers to comprehensive OUD treatment across the healthcare system including both acute care hospital pharmacies and outpatient community pharmacies. Despite efforts to increase the number of MOUD providers, there still remain downstream obstacles to MOUD access. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T12:39:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c421d25809ab4b0cb7590938ecb2b8e4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1940-0640 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T12:39:20Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Addiction Science & Clinical Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-c421d25809ab4b0cb7590938ecb2b8e42022-12-22T02:46:33ZengBMCAddiction Science & Clinical Practice1940-06402022-11-011711910.1186/s13722-022-00346-xAvailability of medications for opioid use disorder in outpatient and inpatient pharmacies in South Florida: a secret shopper surveyAlina Syros0Maria G. Rodriguez1Andrew C. Rennick2Grace A. Dima3Alexander R. Gibstein4Lauren de la Parte5Matthew G. Hermenau6Katrina J. Ciraldo7Teresa A. Chueng8Hansel E. Tookes9Tyler S. Bartholomew10David P. Serota11Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineJackson Memorial HospitalDepartment of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineDepartment of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineAbstract Background Despite the proven efficacy of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and recent reduction in barriers to prescribers, numerous obstacles exist for patients seeking MOUD. Prior studies have used telephone surveys to investigate pharmacy-related barriers to MOUD. We applied this methodology to evaluate inpatient and outpatient pharmacy barriers to MOUD in South Florida. Methods Randomly selected pharmacies in South Florida (Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties) were called using a standardized script with a “secret shopper” approach until 200 successful surveys had been completed. The primary outcome was the availability of any buprenorphine products. Second, a list of all 48 acute care hospitals within the aforementioned counties was compiled, and hospitals were contacted by telephone using a second structured script. Results A total of 1374 outpatient pharmacies and 48 inpatient pharmacies were identified. 378 randomly selected outpatient pharmacies were contacted to accrue 200 successful calls (53% success rate). All 48 inpatient pharmacies were contacted to successfully complete 25 inpatient surveys (52%). Of the 200 outpatient pharmacies contacted, 38% had any buprenorphine available. There was a significant difference in buprenorphine availability by county, with Miami-Dade having the least availability and Palm Beach having the most availability (27% vs. 47%, respectively; p = 0.04). Of the 38% with buprenorphine available, 82% had a sufficient supply for a two-week prescription of buprenorphine 8 mg twice daily. Of the pharmacies that did not have buprenorphine, 55% would be willing to order with a median estimated time to receive an order of 2 days (IQR 1.25–3 days). Of the 25 surveyed inpatient pharmacies, 88% reported having buprenorphine on inpatient formulary, and 55% of hospitals had at least one restriction on ordering of buprenorphine beyond federal regulations. Conclusions The results of this study highlight significant pharmacy-related barriers to comprehensive OUD treatment across the healthcare system including both acute care hospital pharmacies and outpatient community pharmacies. Despite efforts to increase the number of MOUD providers, there still remain downstream obstacles to MOUD access.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13722-022-00346-xOpioid use disorderBuprenorphine pharmacy availabilityPharmacistsFloridaBuprenorphine providers |
| spellingShingle | Alina Syros Maria G. Rodriguez Andrew C. Rennick Grace A. Dima Alexander R. Gibstein Lauren de la Parte Matthew G. Hermenau Katrina J. Ciraldo Teresa A. Chueng Hansel E. Tookes Tyler S. Bartholomew David P. Serota Availability of medications for opioid use disorder in outpatient and inpatient pharmacies in South Florida: a secret shopper survey Addiction Science & Clinical Practice Opioid use disorder Buprenorphine pharmacy availability Pharmacists Florida Buprenorphine providers |
| title | Availability of medications for opioid use disorder in outpatient and inpatient pharmacies in South Florida: a secret shopper survey |
| title_full | Availability of medications for opioid use disorder in outpatient and inpatient pharmacies in South Florida: a secret shopper survey |
| title_fullStr | Availability of medications for opioid use disorder in outpatient and inpatient pharmacies in South Florida: a secret shopper survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Availability of medications for opioid use disorder in outpatient and inpatient pharmacies in South Florida: a secret shopper survey |
| title_short | Availability of medications for opioid use disorder in outpatient and inpatient pharmacies in South Florida: a secret shopper survey |
| title_sort | availability of medications for opioid use disorder in outpatient and inpatient pharmacies in south florida a secret shopper survey |
| topic | Opioid use disorder Buprenorphine pharmacy availability Pharmacists Florida Buprenorphine providers |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13722-022-00346-x |
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