Abstract
RURAL-CP: a rural community pharmacy practice-based research network in the USA
Part of Special Series: WONCA World Rural Health Conference Abstracts 2022
AUTHORS
Patricia Mashburn2 Community Pharmacist
Tessa Hastings3 Assistant Professor
Salisa Westrick4 Department Head and Sterling Professor
Meagen Rosenthal5 Associate Professor
Megan Smith6 Assistant Professor
Stephanie Kiser7 Professor of the Practice
Geoffrey Curran8 Professor
CORRESPONDENCE
*Associate Professor Delesha Carpenter
AFFILIATIONS
1, 2, 7 University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, Asheville, NC, USA
3 University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
4 Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
5 University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
6, 8 University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
PUBLISHED
10 January 2023 Volume 23 Issue 1
HISTORY
RECEIVED: 20 September 2022
ACCEPTED: 20 September 2022
CITATION
Carpenter D, Mashburn P, Hastings T, Westrick S, Rosenthal M, Smith M, Kiser S, Curran G. RURAL-CP: a rural community pharmacy practice-based research network in the USA. Rural and Remote Health 2023; 23: 8092. https://doi.org/10.22605/RRH8092
AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence
abstract:
Introduction: To strengthen and demonstrate the ability of rural pharmacists to address their communities’ health needs, we developed the first multi-state rural community pharmacy practice-based research network (PBRN) in the USA called the Rural Research Alliance of Community Pharmacies (RURAL-CP). Our objective is to describe the process for developing RURAL-CP and discuss challenges to creating a PBRN during the pandemic.
Methods: We conducted a literature review of community pharmacy PBRNs and met with expert consultants to gain insight into PBRN best practices. We obtained funding to hire a postdoctoral research associate, conducted site visits, and administered a baseline survey, which assessed many aspects of the pharmacy, including staffing, services, and organizational climate. Pharmacy site visits were initially conducted in-person but were later adapted to a virtual format due to the pandemic.
Results: RURAL-CP is now a PBRN registered with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality within the USA. Currently, 95 pharmacies across five southeastern states are enrolled. Conducting site visits was critical for developing rapport, demonstrating our commitment to engage with pharmacy staff, and appreciating the needs of each pharmacy. RURAL-CP pharmacists’ main research priority was expanding reimbursable pharmacy services, especially for diabetes patients. Since enrollment, network pharmacists have participated in two COVID-19 surveys.
Discussion: RURAL-CP has been instrumental in identifying rural pharmacists’ research priorities. COVID-19 provided an early test of the network infrastructure, which allowed us to quickly assess COVID-19 training and resource needs. We are refining policies and infrastructure to support future implementation research with network pharmacies.