Pharmacist Interventions in Immigrant and Refugee Populations: A Scoping Review.

Abstract

Background: Global movement has heightened concerns regarding the well-being of immigrant and refugee populations. In the United States, the influx of refugees underscores the pressing need to address their unique health challenges, alongside social determinants of health (SDOH). Pharmacists are well-positioned to mitigate these disparities.

Objectives: This scoping review aims to identify pharmacist-led interventions targeting immigrants and refugees in the US.

Methods: A health sciences librarian created a comprehensive search strategy in five electronic databases. After de-duplication and screening of 2,603 studies by four independent reviewers, ten were selected for inclusion by two independent reviewers. Selected articles were mapped to SDOH framework.

Results: Among the ten manuscripts, two were randomized controlled trials, and eight observational studies. Four manuscripts focused on the SDOH framework of Education Access and Quality and six on Healthcare Access and Quality. Under the former, three interventions focused on understanding how to access a pharmacy or understand medication directions while the fourth assessed hepatitis B education. Regarding Healthcare Access and Quality, both randomized controlled trials examined the impact of lifestyle interventions with medication-therapy management (MTM). Four examined the pharmacists' role in providing healthcare access including chronic disease management, latent-tuberculosis infection (LTBI), diabetes, and health screenings for metabolic disorders.

Conclusion: Ten pharmacist interventions proactively addressed barriers to healthcare in immigrant and refugee populations in the two SDOH domains that pharmacists are most in a position to aid; Education Access and Quality and Healthcare Access and Quality. The remaining SDOHs represent areas of opportunities for pharmacists.