Mangan MN, Powers MF, Lengel AJ Student Pharmacists’ Perception of Barriers to Counseling Patients on Medication Adherence within the Community Pharmacy Setting Mangan MN, Powers MF, Lengel AJ Kroger Pharmacy and University of Toledo College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614 INTRODUCTION DISCUSSION RESULTS Barriers The issue of improving medication adherence is quickly becoming recognized as a public health priority. In the United States, 33 to 69 percent of all medication-related hospital admissions are due to poor medication adherence. Current research on medication adherence has been primarily focused on identifying barriers that patients face when taking their medications. Recent literature has shown that targeting medication adherence during pharmacist-led counseling sessions improves patients’ adherence to medications at less expense than complex, coordinated care. Of the possible 65 surveyed student pharmacists, 26 student pharmacists completed the survey (40%). All participants (100%) agreed that they have knowledge on the importance of medication adherence and generally agreed that pharmacy support staff is knowledgeable on the topic as well (72.7%). Student pharmacists felt like they did not have the time to cover adherence in a counseling session (72.7%) nor did they have time to perform follow-up phone calls with the patient (54.5%). Student pharmacists observed their preceptors counseling on medication adherence (77.2%) but generally did not observe their preceptors following-up with patients on adherence management (59%). The majority of student pharmacists (81.8%) feel comfortable bringing up the topic of adherence with the patient but felt that they did not have access to resources on adherence to provide to the patient (59%). Overall, student pharmacists indicated that patients do not seem interested in learning about medication adherence (81.8%). Pharmacists and pharmacy staff have the knowledge on the importance of medication adherence to share with patients but feel they lack the time and resources to make the information available to patients. The observations of student pharmacists are beneficial to this study because they are knowledgeable observers who can provide feedback on their experiences but are not a part of the normal, ongoing operations of the pharmacy. Pharmacists in the community setting have a unique opportunity to play a role in improving medication adherence rates, however patients are not currently aware of the importance that adherence has on their health. Limitations of this study included a small sample size and low response rate. Opinions of student pharmacists may differ from those of the pharmacists. Missing data was excluded. In addition, data may not be generalizable to other states or community pharmacy chain settings. OBJECTIVE To identify barriers to counseling on medication adherence in a supermarket community pharmacy chain and to overcome the barriers identified to help facilitate increased pharmacist involvement in providing clinical services. METHODS CONCLUSIONS Relationships Knowledge The study population consisted of student pharmacists from four colleges of pharmacy in Ohio who completed a one-month advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) rotation in the community setting during the months of June 2011-January 2012. Online surveys were made available to 65 student pharmacists. Student pharmacists completed the anonymous survey to indicate their opinions and perceptions on previous experience with medication adherence, barriers to counseling on medication adherence, and their perceived pharmacist relationship with patients. Survey items were designed to address study questions and were tested for content validity. The study was approved by the University of Toledo, Social, Behavioral & Educational Institutional Review Board. Descriptive and nonparametric statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 20.0. Most pharmacists attempt to counsel on medication adherence within the pharmacy but do not follow-up with patients to assess continued management. Surveyed students indicated they feel constrained for time to counsel patients on adherence and to perform continued follow-up with patients afterwards. Patients generally respect the profession and their relationship with the pharmacist but are not interested in the topic of medication adherence. Factors cited as barriers to counseling patients on medication adherence include time, lack of specific training in adherence management, lack of resources to provide to the patient, and patient disinterest in the subject.