Table 3 Community pharmacists’ self-reported needle and syringe sales practices, independent pharmacists vs. chain/supermarket pharmacists
Needle/syringe sales practice | All community pharmacists | Independent pharmacists | Chain/supermarket pharmacists | Independent vs. chain/supermarket1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
N (%) | N (%) | N (%) | P value | |
Do you sell needles and syringes without a prescription in your pharmacy? | ||||
Yes | 445 (63.3) | 152 (51.9) | 293 (71.5) | < 0.01* |
No | 258 (36.7) | 141 (48.1) | 117 (28.5) | |
Among all community pharmacists: “How willing are you to provide clean needles and syringes?” | ||||
Willing (5 or 6) | 210 (30.0) | 100 (33.8) | 110 (27.2) | |
In the middle (3 or 4) | 217 (31.0) | 85 (28.7) | 132 (32.6) | 0.04* |
Not at all willing (1 or 2) | 274 (39.1) | 111 (37.5) | 163 (40.2) | |
Among all community pharmacists: “How willing are you to dispose of used needles and syringes?” | ||||
Willing (5 or 6) | 132 (18.7) | 70 (23.7) | 62 (15.2) | |
In the middle (3 or 4) | 132 (18.7) | 60 (20.3) | 72 (17.6) | < 0.01* |
Not at all willing (1 or 2) | 441 (62.6) | 166 (56.1) | 275 (67.2) | |
Only those who do not sell needles: “How willing are you to provide clean needles and syringes?” | ||||
Willing (5 or 6) | 50 (20.41) | 34 (25.19) | 16 (14.55) | |
In the middle (3 or 4) | 74 (30.20) | 40 (29.63) | 34 (30.91) | 0.08 |
Not at all willing (1 or 2) | 121 (49.39) | 61 (45.19) | 60 (54.55) | |
Only those who do not sell needles: “How willing are you to dispose of used needles and syringes?” | ||||
Willing (5 or 6) | 41 (16.33) | 29 (21.01) | 12 (10.62) | |
In the middle (3 or 4) | 48 (19.12) | 32 (23.19) | 16 (14.16) | < 0.01* |
Not at all willing (1 or 2) | 162 (64.54) | 77 (55.80) | 85 (75.22) | |
Mean (SD) | Mean (SD) | Mean (SD) | P value | |
In the last 30 days, to how many individuals have you sold syringes and needles? | 10.29 (30.4) | 4.79 (7.4) | 13.20 (36.9) | 0.01* |
In the past 30 days, how many times have you DENIED requests for purchase of syringes or needles? | 2.51 (4.9) | 1.36 (4.5) | 3.12 (5.0) | < 0.01* |