Tiffany Lee, Assistant Professor, Memorial University of Newfoundland, will work with researchers in Toronto and patient-partners to conduct a proof-of-concept study for the SPARK tool (Screening for Poverty And Related social determinants and intervening to improve Knowledge of and links to resources by community pharmacists). This project seeks to leverage the unique frontline position of community pharmacists to screen for social determinants of health. Not only will the findings contribute to a higher standard for community pharmacist health-services research in Canada, but it will also address a topic of significant concern to provincial, federal, and international health services agencies and Ministries of Health.
Researchers will work with pharmacists at four community pharmacy to study the use of the SPARK tool during the provision of primary-care services, such as a medication review. Data will be collected from patients and providers over a six-month period ending July 31, 2025.