A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of the Feasibility of a Medical Management-Based Text Messaging Intervention Combined With Buprenorphine in Primary Care.

Background: Mobile health (mHealth) tools offer an effective and personalized approach to enhance chronic disease management and may partially offset provider-level barriers to increasing buprenorphine prescribing in primary care. This study assessed the feasibility of integrating a text messaging-based medical management tool (TeMeS) in primary care among patients initiating buprenorphine. Methods: TeMeS messages are categorized per the medical management model, programed in a HIPAA-compliant texting software (Apptoto©), and delivered in a tiered fashion over 8-weeks to patients. This mixed-methods evaluation of TeMeS utilized key stakeholder feedback (patients, physicians, administrators, nursing), text messaging software process measures, thematic analysis of patient participant text message content, and electronic administrative data (eg, appointment adherence, treatment retention) at 2-months. Results: The study team approached 65 patients and n = 14 (21%) were ineligible or declined to participate in the study. Most eligible participants owned a smartphone (90%), responded to at least one text query (88%) over an average of 24 days, and few requested to stop receiving texts (6%). Participant text replies included responses to cognitive behavioral therapy-based queries (13.8%), confirming or rescheduling appointments (6.1%), and insurance, pharmacy, or clinical issues pertaining to buprenorphine dispensation or dosing (2%). Suggestions for design modifications included personalizing message content and adjusting message frequency per patient risk of illicit opioid reuse, use of video-based informational content, and real-time provider and staff support for emergent issues. Conclusion: Our findings highlight the acceptability, feasibility, and high rates of engagement of utilizing text messaging to enhance self-management among patients initiating buprenorphine treatment.

Rural and small metro area naloxone-dispensing pharmacists' attitudes, experiences, and support for a frontline public health pharmacy role to increase naloxone uptake in New York State, 2019.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study is to assess community pharmacists' attitudes and experiences related to naloxone dispensation and counseling in non-urban areas in New York State to better understand individual and structural factors that influence pharmacy provision of naloxone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study conducted interviewer-administered semistructured surveys among community pharmacists in retail, independent, and supermarket pharmacies between October 2019 and December 2019. The 29-item survey ascertained pharmacists' demographic and practice characteristics; experiences and beliefs related to naloxone dispensation; and attitudes toward expansion of pharmacy services to include on-site public health services for persons who use opioids. The study used Chi square tests to determine associations between each characteristic and self-reported naloxone dispensation (any vs. none). RESULTS: A total of 60 of the 80 community pharmacists that the study team had approached agreed to participate. A majority were supportive of expanding pharmacy-based access to vaccinations (93.3%), on-site HIV testing, or referrals (75% and 96.7%, respectively), providing information on safe syringe use (93.3%) and disposal (98.3%), and referrals to medical/social services (88.3%), specifically substance use treatment (90%). A majority of pharmacist respondents denied negative impacts on business with over half reporting active naloxone dispensation (58.3%). Pharmacists dispensing naloxone were more likely to be multilingual (p < 0.03), and to specifically support on-site HIV testing (p < 0.02) than those who were not dispensing naloxone. DISCUSSION: Community pharmacists were highly favorable of naloxone dispensation in rural and small metro area pharmacies in NY, and those fluent in additional language(s) and supportive of on-site HIV testing were associated with active naloxone dispensation. While active naloxone dispensation was low, pharmacists appear supportive of a "frontline public health provider" model, which could facilitate naloxone uptake and warrants large-scale investigation. CONCLUSION: Rural and small metro area pharmacists are generally favorable of naloxone dispensation.

Factors associated with HIV stigma and the impact of a nonrandomized multi-component video aimed at reducing HIV stigma among a high-risk population in New York City.

We examined characteristics associated with HIV stigma and evaluated a multi-component video designed to normalize HIV and reduce HIV stigma. Three pharmacies located in heavy, drug-active neighborhoods in New York City and registered to sell nonprescription syringes were trained to recruit their nonprescription syringe customers who inject drugs and their under/uninsured customers. Syringe customer participants were trained to recruit up to three of their peers. As part of a larger intervention to increase HIV testing, participants in two of three study arms viewed the "Health Screenings for Life" video and were administered pre/post-video surveys capturing HIV stigma. Participants in the nonvideo arm were administered one assessment of HIV stigma. Log-binomial regression with generalized estimating equations to account for clustering of peer networks was used to: (1) determine factors associated with HIV stigma and (2) determine differences in HIV stigma by study arm. A total of 716 participants were recruited. Factor analyses showed HIV stigma measures loading on two factors: HIV blame and HIV shame. After adjustment, HIV blame was positively associated with younger age (PR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.07-1.43) and inversely associated with educational attainment (PR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.58-0.76) and employment (PR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.60-0.96). HIV shame was inversely associated with educational attainment (PR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.62-0.92), HIV-positive status (PR: 0.60; 95% CI: 0.39-0.92), and injecting drugs (PR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.54-0.94) and was positively associated with multiple sex partnerships (PR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.01-1.52). Those who viewed the video were also less likely to report HIV blame and HIV shame, post-video, compared to those in the nonvideo arm. These data provide evidence of an association between HIV stigma and lower socioeconomic status groups, and between HIV stigma and HIV sexual risk. These data also provide evidence that a multi-component video aimed at normalizing HIV may assist in reducing HIV stigma in heavy, drug-active neighborhoods.