Long-term care professionals’ views on pharmacists: a qualitative study using Role Theory

Abstract

Background Qualitative research investigating pharmacists' participation in Long-Term Care (LTC) within interdisciplinary teams is scarce. Aim To characterize how pharmacists' participation in a national network of LTC is perceived by healthcare professionals and other key stakeholders. Method Individual, in-depth, semi-structured interviews of participants (nurses, physicians, pharmacists, and LTC researchers) enrolled purposively or through snowballing sampling techniques, with the final sample being comprised of fourteen participants. Data analysis followed a deductive coding approach framed by Role Theory and supplemented with an inductive coding for additional themes. Results Four Role Theory constructs were identified from the primary data-role identity, overqualification, ambiguity, underqualification. Clinical pharmacy services, logistics and educational activities were pointed out as representing the identity of pharmacists' interventions. Despite the clear identification of LTC pharmacists' interventions, pharmacist expertise on medicine optimization seemed to be underused (role overqualification), as a result of lack of time, lower proactivity in healthcare teams' integration, and the absence of a legal framework targeted to LTC pharmacy practice (role ambiguity). Additional clinical training, including in the management of older people's health conditions, nutrition, and palliative care were missing (role underqualification). Conclusion LTC pharmacists can provide essential services (e.g., clinical pharmacy, logistics, educational interventions), although additional training and a clearer legal framework are missing to better define pharmacists' roles in LTC pharmacy practice.

Older people, medication usage and long-term care pharmacists: a retrospective cohort study

“…Other reasons such as professional isolation35 should also be considered an explanatory factor. In recent qualitative studies, pharmacists were perceived as crucial elements of LTC teams, yet the lack of training, ambiguity in the role of pharmacists and lower proactivity in healthcare team integration were pointed out as barriers to LTC pharmacy practice 36 37. Future research should evaluate the influence of these perspectives on the absence or small effect size of pharmacists’ interventions in our outcome variables.…”