2022 Incentive Grant Recipient: Christina Nguyen, PharmD
Project Proposal: Screening for Social Determinants of Health in a Community Pharmacy
Christina Nguyen, PharmD currently serves as the PGY-1 Community Pharmacy Resident with Western University of Health Sciences/Ralphs in Pomona, CA. She is a graduate of University of Wisconsin - Madison School of Pharmacy.
"I am excited for this chance to explore the opportunities that community pharmacists can create to evaluate patients’ social determinants of health, and I am incredibly honored to receive an Incentive Grant to push this research further by increasing patient engagement in our pharmacies."
This study will aim to assess the utility of community pharmacist referrals in connecting patients with local resources that address social determinants of health (SDOH). SDOH account for up to 80% of health outcomes, however only 16% of clinic practices and 24% of hospitals report screening their patients’ SDOH. Community pharmacists, who patients visit every couple of months, are in a unique position to screen for SDOH in order to identify barriers and provide patients with resources within their respective communities that can positively impact these health outcomes. Current literature discusses the implementation of SDOH screenings in pharmacies, however it lacks information on the success rate of the screenings in addressing the patients’ barriers to care.
"Evaluating patients’ SDOH as a screening service allows us, as pharmacists, to better understand our patients’ needs, implement solutions, and provide recommendations that ultimately improve the health of our communities. I have always been passionate about whole health, so I am most excited to see how community pharmacists can continue to expand their clinical services towards a more holistic approach and the positive impact this could have on patients’ health outcomes."