Practical naloxone communication tips for pharmacists: Lessons learned from the Linguistic Model of Patient Participation in Care

Abstract

Background

Opioid overdose is an ongoing public health issue in the rural United States and can be countered by increasing access to the opioid antagonist naloxone. Community pharmacists are well-positioned to offer and dispense naloxone to patients at risk of opioid overdose, but still experience a range of communication barriers. Understanding rural patient communication preferences is essential to prepare pharmacists to discuss naloxone in a patient-centered manner.

Objective

To explore rural community pharmacists' and patients’ naloxone communication preferences employing the Linguistic Model of Patient Participation in Care (LM).

Methods

In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 40 community pharmacists and 40 patients from rural areas in Alabama, Iowa, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. After a thematic analysis of the interview transcripts, three code reports were selected for a secondary qualitative analysis informed by the LM.

Results

All elements described in the LM (Predisposing Factors, Enabling Factors, And Provider's Communication Style) were associated with patient-pharmacist naloxone communication. The analysis revealed four additional factors not accounted for in the model: Stigma, Privacy, Insurance Coverage and Price, and Collaboration with Physician.

Conclusion

Patient-pharmacist naloxone conversations are impacted by the factors described in the LM, as well as several pharmacy-specific factors which were included in an adapted conceptual model. Future studies should consider these findings when developing interventions to improve patient-pharmacist communication and pharmacists can utilize the practical tips provided to actively address the opioid epidemic.