SDOH Impact Patient Outcomes That Pharmacists Struggle to Address | NCPA 2025

With social determinants of health (SDOH) and behavioral health outcomes coming to the forefront of health care initiatives, pharmacists are now working to address these outcomes among patients in the community. However, with sensitivity and stigma so often surrounding patients’ SDOH, pharmacists have found it difficult to have these crucial conversations with patients.

“There are pharmacists who are just not comfortable or feel qualified to be able to help individuals with their behavioral, mental health-related issues,” Andrew M. Peterson, PharmD, PhD, FCPP, professor at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, told Drug Topics. “I think that's part of it, and then there's a whole stigma that's associated with it. I think pharmacists are oftentimes afraid to converse with individuals about either food insecurity, mental health problems, things like that because they're not sure that that's the right role.”

During our interview with Peterson at the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) 2025 Annual Convention & Expo, he continued to discuss how pharmacists can indeed educate themselves on improving patients’ behavioral health and how pharmacists are so accessible as a community health care touch point. However, the innate difficulties surrounding social health issues create a barrier for pharmacists and their counseling abilities.

Before getting into potential behavioral health services led by pharmacists, in part 1 of our interview, Peterson addressed the issues at hand and how providers can easily overlook patients’ SDOH.

Get expert insights from Peterson as he provides further details on his NCPA session titled “Bridging Care Gaps: Behavioral Health Advocacy at the Pharmacy Counter.”

Read more of our coverage from NCPA 2025.

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