Use of multiple pharmacies by people living with HIV

Using multiple pharmacies has been linked to negative outcomes including increased inappropriate drug use, toxicity, and mortality, yet up to half of all patients in the US use multiple pharmacies.

A pilot survey was administered to measure pharmacy use in people living with HIV (PWH) and examine the associated attitudes and outcomes.

In a midwestern HIV clinic, a convenience sample was surveyed based on using single (SPU) versus multiple pharmacies (MPU).

One hundred forty-two subjects participated (69 SPU; 73 MPU): 75% male, 59% white, and > 70% being ≥ 40 years old.

There was a trend towards increased recall of self-reported CD4 and viral load status for SPUs vs MPUs [OR 2.26 (95%, 0.91–5.64)].

SPU participants indicated acquiring all meds in one place [Likert Scale weighted average (LS WA) = 4.45], proximity (LS WA = 3.64), the identification of adverse effects (LS WA = 4.17), and concerns about missing potential drug-drug interactions (LS WA = 4.06) as reasons for preferring a single pharmacy.

The desire to keep HIV status private (LS WA = 3.65) was noted as a significant reason for using a separate pharmacy specifically for acquiring antiretrovirals in MPU participants.

Results indicate patients often have justifiable reasons for using single versus multiple pharmacies.