Pharmacists perceptions of providing colorectal cancer screening in community-based practice

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common diagnosed cancer in the United States. Kentucky pharmacists can be instrumental in the CRC early detection process through board-authorized protocols (BAPs): a regulatory approach managed by the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy that allows pharmacists to increase access to care while saving lives through early detection screening. Determining the barriers and successes of implementing CRC screening can improve access to education and care for patients.

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate community pharmacists’ perceptions of implementing a colorectal screening for patients via protocol and identify pharmacists’ confidence and potential barriers such as cost, staff support, and patient need for colorectal screening in community pharmacy settings.

Methods

A survey was sent electronically to a convenience sample of pharmacists throughout Kentucky. The survey collected demographics, opinions regarding implementation of the CRC screening protocol, pharmacists’ perceptions of knowledge, and the barriers and benefits associated with implementation of CRC services.

Results

A total of 207 responses were received and of those 151 were from community-based pharmacists; 34% of pharmacists agreed or strongly agreed to offer CRC screening. Overwhelmingly, 81.3% of pharmacists reported need for additional training. There were no statistically significant differences in support among demographic factors: practice setting (P = 0.937), gender (P = 0.973), age (P = 0.568), and years practicing (P = 0.870). In addition, the most common barriers reported were lack of reimbursement (97%), lack of willingness for patients to pay (98%), and time or workflow issues (97%). Most pharmacists stated that lack of trust in pharmacists was not a barrier (87%).

Conclusions

Overall, 34% of pharmacists either agreed or strongly agreed to offer CRC screening via the board-approved protocol. However, overwhelmingly the pharmacists believe that there is a need for additional training and opportunities for additional training on BAPs have increased drastically in Kentucky. Barriers such as lack of reimbursement, willingness to pay, and time or workflow issues need to be overcome before implementation. Finding solutions to these barriers will increase pharmacist’s support.