J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2024 Jul-Aug;64(4S):102103. doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2024.102103. Epub 2024 Apr 20.
The current state of the mental health crisis has been a topic of discussion around the nation, with those in rural communities being at a particularly higher risk. Community pharmacists are uniquely positioned to screen patients for mental health disorders and provide education and patient monitoring following medication changes by prescribers.
The objective of this study is to assess mental health screening outcomes provided by rural community pharmacists.
This retrospective evaluation of a pilot project describes a behavioral health service. Eligible patients were 18 years of age or older, taking one or more mental health medications and covered by the specific Medicaid health plan. Participating pharmacies were those that had a considerable patient population participating with that plan, as well as credentialed and trained pharmacists. Pharmacists performed telehealth visits with eligible patients where they confirmed their mental health diagnosis and medications. Based on patient confirmed diagnosis, a Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire-7 (GAD-7) or Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) test was administered. The pharmacists then made recommendations to the patients or their prescribers and created a plan with the patient for implementation based on their score.Follow-up calls were conducted to readminister the appropriate test to identify changes in mental health scores.
There were 61 patients who participated in the services across 4 pharmacies. Mean GAD-7 scores were 8.1 at initial appointment and 6.4 at follow-up (n = 24). Mean PHQ-9 scores were 11.2 initially and 10 at follow-up (n = 37).
This implementation project supports the creation of additional mental health services in the community pharmacy setting to reinforce and encourage follow-up provider visits in areas where there are mental health provider shortages and may possibly improve patient outcomes.
精神健康危机的现状一直是全国讨论的话题，农村社区的情况尤其严重。社区药剂师在筛查患者的精神健康障碍方面具有独特的优势，并且可以在医生调整药物后为患者提供教育和监测。
本研究旨在评估农村社区药剂师提供的精神健康筛查结果。
这是对一项试点项目的回顾性评估，描述了一项行为健康服务。合格患者年龄在 18 岁或以上，正在服用一种或多种精神健康药物，并且是特定 Medicaid 健康计划的参保人。参与的药店必须有相当数量的参保患者，并且拥有有资质和经过培训的药剂师。药剂师通过远程医疗访问与符合条件的患者进行交流，以确认他们的精神健康诊断和药物。根据患者确认的诊断，对其进行一般焦虑障碍问卷-7（GAD-7）或患者健康问卷-9（PHQ-9）测试。然后，药剂师向患者或其处方医生提出建议，并根据他们的分数为患者制定实施计划。进行后续电话访问，以重新进行适当的测试，以确定精神健康评分的变化。
有 61 名患者在 4 家药店参加了该服务。24 名患者的平均 GAD-7 评分从最初的 8.1 分降至随访时的 6.4 分；37 名患者的 PHQ-9 评分从最初的 11.2 分降至随访时的 10 分。
本实施项目支持在社区药房环境中创建更多的精神健康服务，以加强和鼓励在精神健康提供者短缺的地区进行后续提供者访问，并可能改善患者的结果。
